BWW Reviews: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, March 1 2014

Set in 1927 this classic musical tells the story of Monumental Pictures producting their first musical film during an age of silent pictures.

In the leading role James Leece plays a charasmatic Don Lockwood. Trained at the Royal Ballet School he excels with all of the dance elements of the part and he gives a vocal performance to match. Faye Tozer was endearingly irritating as the uniquely voiced Lina Lamont: a huge hit as a silent film star but things become problematic when they decided to make the picture a musical. High pitched and nasal, nobody wants to hear her speak or sing so they use unknown actress Kathy Selden's voice while she lip syncs on screen.

The songs are well known - the likes of Good Mornin', Make 'Em Laugh and of course Singin' In The Rain received rapturous applause. The transfer from screen to stage has been executed flawlessly with the film inserts being a particularly nice touch.

The advertising for Singin' In The Rain boasts that 12,000 litres of water are used in every performance. Large quantities of water may not be a novelty to a Scottish audience but these scenes were undoubtedly the most popular of the performance. The choreography in the finale is excellent, yet I think there is an element of delight for the cast in soaking the audience!

There is a reason Singin' In The Rain is a classic. I would challenge anybody to leave the theatre without the biggest smile on their face!

Singin' In The Rain runs at the Festival Theatre until March 15th and is on tour around the UK.

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