Review: Theatre Denton's SINGING IN THE RAIN is Full of Charm and Nostalgia

SINGING IN THE RAIN

Based on the Classic MGM film

Screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed

Original Choreography by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen

Stage Choreography by Amiti Perry

Directed by Pete Kelly and Aileene Stark

Musical Direction by Jett Cheek

 

Seeing a play based on a movie you love can be anxiety-producing. Will you be disappointed if the scenes you love most don’t quite measure up? When heading out to Theatre Denton’s Singing in the Rain, push your worries away and be prepare to be delighted. Every beloved scene is brought to life creatively to honor your film memories in surprising new ways.

Set Designer John Evarts has created a stage that includes a projection screen that serves multiple purposes from backgrounds to the screening space for silent movies to Philip Lamb’s amazing projection design and animation. Specific credit is not given for the creation of the silent movie frames but the cleverness of those must be mentioned. Evarts makes a fun cameo appearance on film promoting the new invention of “talking pictures.”

Thomas J. Fetner’s Don Lockwood is handsome, charming, and smooth. Any young girl would be smitten by his “You Stepped Out of a Dream” serenade. Lizzy Perrone’s spunky and sassy Kathy Selden is a perfect match for him. By the time she sings “You Are My Lucky Star” we know they are meant to be. Thanks to lots of help from Lockwood’s buddy Cosmo Brown (Bryson Beavers), the lovers are able to overcome the obstacles thrown at them by Lina Lamont (Kyleen Milton Hjembo). Beavers is a bundle of energy from his first entrance. In “Make ‘Em Laugh” he shows off his vocal talent, his dancing abilities, and his comic chops. Hjembo is delightful as the conniving, but naïve damsel who doesn’t understand why talking pictures are going to create a problem for her. Genius was involved in the staging of her dressing room song, “What’s Wrong With Me?”   The script does not call for the use of her vanity mirror to let the audience hear her voice as she imagines it to be when facing the mirror, and then the voice others hear when she moves away from the mirror. Whether Musical Director Jett Cheek or co-directors Pete Kelly and Aileene Stark made this call, they deserve kudos – especially from Hjembo since it allows her to show the audience that her true voice is lovely.

Singing in the Rain features a large cast of supporting roles plus the ensemble that sings and dances its way through the performance. Gary Severen plays R.F. Simpson, the studio head. Tom Kelly plays the director of the Lockwood/Lamont films, Roscoe Dexter.  Lukas Swayne is Rod Dexter, assistant to his father at the studio. Mary Bresnahan Durbin is Miss Dinsmore, the gossip columnist. Miss Dinsmore presides at the microphone interviewing celebrities as they arrive at movie premieres. My favorite celebrity moment was the arrival of Charlie Chaplin (Ian McKenna). 

The production staff is also large and includes Stage Manager Jennifer Baldwin, Costumer Madison Musgrove, Scenic Artist Tony Rose, and Light Board Operator Linda Rubin. Jessy Ya-Chen Lee served as rehearsal pianist and played cello in the orchestra. The live orchestra gave extra depth to the music.

Singing in the Rain continues through July 23rd at Theatre Denton’s Campus Theatre venue. Tickets are available through TheatreDenton.com or by calling the box office at 940-382-1915. Evening performances are at 7:30; Weekend Matinees are at 2 pm. Break the drought and cool-off with this refreshing splash of fun.                

Experience Live Theater!

Glynda Welch

Audience Rating: G

Running Time: 2 ½ hours including 20 minute intermission

Accessible Seating: Available

Hearing Devices: Not Available

Sensory Friendly Performance: Not Available

ASL Showing: Not Available

Production Sound Level: Comfortable Sound Level

Noises or Visuals to Prepare for: N/A