The Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse’s Singin’ in the Rain can have you laughin’ at clouds, irrespective of how darkish the climate. The 1983 musical is predicated on the beloved 1952 movie, with its screenplay (and the musical’s e book) by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed writing music and lyrics for most of its tunes, lots of that are borrowed from 1920s and 1930s movies (by MGM, natch, which concocted this movie). Thus, the present is in some ways a jukebox musical, and Circa ’21’s manufacturing makes use of the 2012 revival’s script, which is a pared-down and shuffled model of the unique.
Director M. Seth Reines and music director Mason Moss have put collectively a wonderful night of leisure. Choreographer Lauran Stanis dealt with the energetic hoofing, and there is a flood of it, together with some extraordinarily refined tapping – the dancing will wow you. Scenic designer Jared Cole, lighting designer Donald R. Fox, sound designer Cory Schnekloth, technical director Joel Schleicher, and assistant technical director Richard Baker collaborated to offer the skilled stagecraft, with movie coordinator Clint Balsar in cost of the spot-on black-and-white clips.
Meanwhile, costume designer Gregory Hiatt, additionally the supervisor of Circa ’21’s costume store Show Business, provides a lot sparkle, with the creation worn by Lina Lamont (Sarah Mae Banning) at the prime of the present particularly gorgeous. All the outfits are lusciously in 1920s interval, and Hiatt will get to stretch his wings in an Act II quantity by taking the guys out of their blacks and browns and right into a broad, vivid palette.
Singin’ in the Rain’s premise is predicated on an actual-life change in the movie business, as a result of when know-how introduced sound to the display screen and flicks grew to become talkies, actors needed to look good and sound good. Ironically, although, sound points at Wednesday’s preview efficiency made a few of the dialogue in the first scene inaudible. At occasions, the playback of cheers and applause of the movie-premiere followers overwhelmed the traces of pink-carpet commentator Dora (Shelley Walljasper) and her interviewees, together with stars Don Lockwood (Christopher Russell) and Lina. As the motion switches to a flashback to Don’s stage beginnings, although, Tessie (Megan Orlowski) units the vaudeville scene successfully in a brief, exuberant burlesque bit devised by director Reines. The lyrics have been largely misplaced underneath the loud music, however she was a visible delight as she swiveled her tassels – set a few foot decrease on her costume than, given the interval, I’d have anticipated (however then, that is the Midwest) – and I am certain the sound bugs have been squashed by Friday’s opening evening.
Don and his buddy Cosmo Brown (James Garrett Hill) additional enliven the stage with the excellent (and borderline hazardous) “Fit as a Fiddle.” Their wonderful dancing, acrobatics, and prop-dealing with, singing all the whereas, is so breathtaking it made me want that Don had saved leaping about onstage moderately than changing into a largely stationary movie star, however that is not how the story goes.
Russell is ideal as Don, who, although good-natured and gifted, just isn’t fairly as daring as the dashing heroes he performs. (He truly seeks refuge from fame, and feels threatened when he meets a authentic stage performer.) Don just isn’t solely a pleasure to look at, but additionally a sympathetic character as a result of, in contrast to Russell in the position, the character just isn’t good.
Banning portrays his onscreen main woman, who has dazzling seems to be, a dim-bulb thoughts, and a screech someplace between a lonely cat and an offended seagull. She carries it off with fantastic comedic talent. Lina does not deal with her items or curses properly, and though she is prickly – generally drawing blood – I felt for her, too. When the movie-sound bombshell hits, she does not need to be blasted out of her profession. Would you?
Erin Churchill performs the newcomer Kathy Selden with a golden throat and toes to match. Churchill could be very interesting, with a robust, spirited presence, and I used to be cheering for Kathy to realize deserved fame as a performer, as an alternative of being relegated to carry out as a ghost-singer who’s herself unsung. Speaking of second bananas, whereas Hill performs one as Cosmo, he is assuredly one in all the better of the bunch. The performer is easy, hilarious, and has all the strikes; I might like to see him quickly in a number one position.
Russell performs the basic title tune with the requisite streetlamp, curb, and gusto aplenty, with the rain impact properly accomplished. (Don’t fear; no person will get moist.) My admiration for him elevated when his unruly mic determined to take a seat out the complete quantity, and he danced and sang through the downpour with out amplification. I like a trouper. I additionally notably loved “Good Morning” with Churchill, Hill, and Russell, not that any of the present’s songs have been lackluster. Each member of the ensemble is as satisfying as these in larger roles, and the complete solid is a blast after they’re onstage collectively.
Singin’ in the Rain is all you possibly can need in a musical stage diversion, and can put the solar in your coronary heart.
Singin’ in the Rain runs at the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse (1828 Third Avenue, Rock Island) through November 2, and extra data and tickets can be found by calling (309)786-7733 extension 2 or visiting Circa21.com.
