‘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 Linda Chin
No show fits Ogunquit Playhouse’s description as a self-producer of “big splashy musicals and side-splitting comedies” that attracts “casts of stars on its historic stage” better than Singin’ in the Rain, the spectacular romantic musical comedy based on the legendary MGM film. First staged at OP in 2009, director Jayme McDaniel returns to helm this production, Kristin Pope choreographs, and Matthew Smedal music directs. Broadway’s Max Clayton (Music Man) as leading man Don Lockwood, Christian Probst as BFF Cosmo Brown, Chiara Trentalange as actress Kathy Selden, Kate Loprest as co-star Lina Lamont, Greg Jackson as director Roscoe Dexter, Lance Roberts as producer R.F. Simpson and 19 ensemble members show their acting and singing chops, and literally – dance up a storm.
Set during Hollywood’s glitzy and glamorous Golden Age (scenic design by Andy Walmsley), an expectant crowd (including Charlie Chaplin) outside Grauman’s Chinese Theater dressed in period-perfect costumes (designed by Dustin Cross) eagerly awaits the arrival of celebrity couple Lockwood & Lamont. They greet their fans with dazzling smiles, waves, and air kisses, but Don does all the talking for the pair. Turns out Lamont has a shrill speaking voice, which worked well for silent pictures of the present but is a liability for “talkies” of the future. Adding to the awkwardness, their coupledom has been fabricated – fodder for the fan mags; when Lockwood meets Kathy Selden, he is smitten.
The musical numbers include some of the most memorable tunes in the American theater canon – and some of the most impressive dancing you’ll see, especially tap. In Act 1 alone, Clayton’s “You Stepped Out Of a Dream” and Trentalange’s “Lucky Star” feature their velvety voices, and “Make ‘Em Laugh” (Christian Probst), Moses Supposes (Clayton and Probst), “Good Morning” (Clayton, Probst, Trentalange), and “Singin’ in the Rain” were show-stoppers. In Act 2, Loprest and Trentalange’s “Would You”, Loprest’s “What’s Wrong With Me” demonstrate strong storytelling skills, as well as strong voices, and the finale by the full company (in raincoats and umbrellas), brought the house to their feet. The show also includes a scratchy, B&W moving picture featuring Clayton and Loprest on the big screen with title pages in period fonts. Much of the action on stage and screen is groan-worthy/side-splitting funny.
At the performance I attended, there was a moment when the sound cut out; they paused the show and resumed the action in five or so minutes (that must have felt like hours to the crew, but the audience was calm and happy). I found myself holding my breath and filled with pride when the performers nailed some tricky steps involving props (Clayton tossing his hat into the wings like a frisbee, spinning/catching swords and umbrellas), Probst running into walls and boards, and the trio tipping a couch over and jumping into it, and of course, tap dancing in the rain without missing a beat. Such is live theater, and in Singin’ in the Rain, the joy in this show just mounts and mounts…or as the saying goes, when it rains – it pours. For ticket information: tickets.ogunquitplayhouse.org
