‘Singin’ in the Rain’ – Story by Betty Comden and Adolph Green; Lyrics by Arthur Freed; Music by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown; Based on the classic Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Inc. Directed by Jayme McDaniel; Musical Direction by Matt Smedal; Choreography by Kristyn Pope; Scenic Design by Andy Walmsley; Costume Design by Dustin Cross; Lighting Design by Richard Latta; Sound Design by Germán Martinez. Presented by Ogunquit Playhouse, Ogunquit, ME, through July 15
by Mike Hoban
It’s always a challenge when an iconic movie musical – particularly one as beloved as ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ – is brought to the stage. Comparisons to legendary performers are inevitable, and when you include complex dance routines that are also among the most recognizable of all time (Gene Kelly’s title song and dance number and Donald O’Connor’s “Make ‘Em Laugh”), the stakes are sky-high. Luckily for the audiences of Ogunquit’s excellent staging of the classic, the cast and production team serve up a winner that ups the comedy quotient while still delivering first-rate performances of the musical’s song and dance routines.
‘Singin’ is set during the period when films transitioned from silent to “talkies,” and also sends up the celebrity fanzine culture of that time (although it doesn’t come close to today’s social media-driven obsession). Don Lockwood (Max Clayton) and Lena Lamont (the explosively funny Kate Loprest) are America’s onscreen dream couple, making a series of laughable but popular silent romantic costume pieces for Monumental Studios (which are shown on a big screen and are a howl). The pair are linked romantically in the tabloids, but Don can barely stand breathing the same air as Lena, who, besides being as dumb as a box of rocks, has a screechy voice that could shatter glass.
We meet the couple at the world premiere of their latest film, and after taking their bows, Don decides to walk to the studio celebration. On the way, he is besieged by his adoring (female) fans and ends up running for his life. He ducks into a coffee shop, where he stumbles upon stage actress Kathy Selden (Emerson College’s Chiara Trentalange), whom he uses as cover to avoid being mobbed by the hysterical crowd. The plot follows the standard musical/sitcom love story, where she rebuffs his advances and insults him for his cheesy acting, but “true thespian” Cathy gets her comeuppance when she later pops out of a cake at the premiere party and is greeted by a smiling Don. The two spar, and Cathy wreaks unintentional havoc at the event. Because this is a musical comedy, he falls head over heels for her after she disappears – Cinderella-like – into the night.
The production is powered by outstanding performances from the lead actors, and the ensemble is rock solid. As Don Lockwood, Clayton doesn’t quite sell his lines with the panache and confidence of Gene Kelly (who could?), but he may be a better singer, and his hoofing is terrific, particularly in the crowd-pleasing title song and dance number, complete with torrential rain. As Don’s best friend and sidekick Cosmo Brown, Christian Probst effortlessly delivers the lightning-quick one-liners and absolutely nails O’Connor’s physical comedy masterwork routine “Make ‘Em Laugh” and his footwork on “Moses Supposes” (along with Clayton) is terrific. Trentalange brings a more assertive edge to the role of Cathy (as opposed to the syrupy sweet Debbie Reynolds), and her singing and dancing have a real star quality. As the uber-annoying Lena, Loprest steals every scene she’s in, taking the role to new comic heights, with a big hand from Greg Jackson as studio head Roscoe Dexter.
It’s summertime, and it’s time to roll out the classics, and Ogunquit has produced (it’s not a touring production, as executive artistic director Brad Kenney reminds us pre-show) gem in ‘Singin’ in the Rain.’ It’s worth the drive to this beautiful resort town. For tickets and information, go to: tickets.ogunquitplayhouse.org
