This article was written by Emily Koh of ASIA 361.
Prepare to get wet at London’s award-winning splash hit musical, Singin’ in the Rain! Making a splash from the moment it premiered, Singin’ in the Rain has finally made its way to Singapore after a sell-out West End season, four Olivier Award nominations, and a major UK tour.
If you’re sitting at the front rows, get ready for a great wave of fun and laughter as it rains right before your very eyes on stage.
Remember musical star Bethany Dickson who played Maria in The Sound of Music? This time, she’s back on stage wetter than ever in Singin’ in the Rain as part of its star-studded cast. From the producers of Jersey Boys, The Sound of Music and Annie, Singin’ in the Rain is yet another spectacular production from the UK.
Based on the 1952 film of the same name, Singin’ in the Rain is set in 1927, replete with Broadway glamour and the classic charm of the 1920s – yes, you got it right – the era when the film industry blossomed in Hollywood! The classic musical about Hollywood in the 20’s when silent pictures were giving way to the moving (and talking) pictures circles around the advent of sound, music and dance, with riveting dance numbers and a truly impressive live orchestra.
Singin’ in the Rain tells the story of an aspiring chorus girl, Kathy Selden (Bethany Dickson), who dreams of stardom. Along the way she meets Don Lockwood (Duane Alexander), a silent movie star who has a throng of admiring female fans and is in a sham “romance” with his co-star, Lina Lamont (Taryn-Lee Hudson), a vain and talentless silent movie star.
Things take a hilarious turn when Don and Kathy fall in love, leaving the spurned and lovelorn Lina in a jealous fit. Imagine what happens when you put them all together! Fortunately for Dan’s trust sidekick Cosmo Brown (Steven van Wyk), all’s well ends well.
The cast was fantastic in delivering the iconic scenes such as Fit As a Fiddle, Make ‘Em Laugh, Moses Supposes, Good Morning, Would You? (one of my favourites), Gotta Dance, and of course, Singin’ in the Rain.
Bethany Dickson played the role of Kathy Selden perfectly (seriously, what can’t she do?), with her angelic looks, impressive dancing and melodious voice. I especially loved her rendition of Would You? which melted the hearts of everyone in the audience.
Taryn-Lee Hudson, on the other hand, was completely refreshing. She had everyone in stitches with her antics and unwitting punchlines. Her anthem in “What’s Wrong With Me?” had the audience roaring with laughter and applauding her for her feistiness. I have to hand it to her for delivering perfectly in the role of Lina Lamont, which is seriously no mean feat!
Duane Alexander was the main lead in the iconic centerpiece of the musical, Singin’ in the Rain, where he skipped around the stage as 12,000 odd litres of water came cascading down. As part of the dance choreography, Duane Alexander teasingly kicked and splashed, sending showers to the audience.
Seated just one row from the front, we were all squealing with laughter at the sheer delight of so-called, playing in the rain. It filled us all with a sense of child-like wonderment at the magical moment when the water cascaded all over us, reminding us of the times we played in the rain. (In case you were wondering, we were handed ponchos before the musical began, thankfully!)
Singin’ in the Rain is reminiscent of old Hollywood charm, with classic Burlesque scenes (keep a lookout for a certain temptress in black, she was heart-stopping). The dance choreography was clean, smooth and perfectly-timed and the live orchestra never once missed a beat.
Singin’ in the Rain is definitely not to be missed. I mean, how often can you get wet at a musical? A light-hearted feel-good musical, it’s time to revisit the 1920s in Singin’ in the Rain. (You can also get a specially crafted Raindrop cocktail at Adrift, Hotel Lobby Tower 2 at 50% off.)
Singin’ in the Rain is running from 9 to 26 July 2015 at the MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands.
Tickets are from $65 to $195, excluding booking fees, and are available from www.BASEentertainmentasia.com, www.MarinaBaySands.com/Ticketing or www.sistic.com.sg.
