APRIL SHOWERS - MAY OPENING

Coral Drouyn and videographer Nathan King attend the launch of Singin’ In The Rain, with the award winning West End production set to open next month.

There’s a buzz of energy beyond the norm at the fabulous Ministry of Dance in North Melbourne. With classes in process in every studio (so great to see), we travel along the wide recreational hallway, cameramen galore, to one special studio…the rehearsal studio for Singin’ In The Rain. The ultimate dance show has come to town.

You have to be careful when you adapt a film as iconic as Singin’ In The Rain – which most musical lovers on the planet know and love (the exception being Russia, Associate director Cameron Wenn tells us, where they never saw the film and didn’t know what the show was all about). People have expectations and you can’t tamper with memories.

“We were acutely aware of that,” says Cameron, “and, even in the early development stages at Chichester, we knew this had to be an homage, not a copy, of the film. So we added, rather than changed.”

The major addition is 12,000 litres of water which flood the stage for the dancers to perform in for the finale, running away into a trough underneath the stage.

Assistant choreographer Jaye Elster tells me the truth behind the apparent simplicity of the ensemble routine. “It isn’t that dangerous while the dancers are within the trough and there is actual water on the surface. The danger comes when they step OUT of it back onto the edges and the stage. The wet shoes make it like glass to move on - like walking on a sheet of ice without skates. And, of course, a bad fall can end a dancer’s career. But the effect is just spectacular. People actually gasp.” Jaye moves back to work and demonstrates a stance, and an attitude, for one of the dancers, the energy fairly blasts from her body like an explosion. This is most definitely a show for dancers

Donald O’Connor – the original Cosmo Brown – said at the end of his life that Singin’ In the Rain wouldn’t transpose to the stage because dancers were trained differently in the current age, because there were no “hoofers” (pure tap dancers) left. Of course he hadn’t seen Hot Shoe Shuffle or Tap Dogs – both shows by David Atkins, who is one of the producers for this production – and both featuring a very young Adam Garcia, who returns to our stages after 24 years away conquering the West End and world stages, to play Don Lockwood – the role made famous by Gene Kelly.

“Yes, I’m a hoofer at heart,” Garcia tells me, “and I’m so grateful for Tap Dogs and Hot Shoe Shuffle that tap was the style that brought me initial recognition. But, like Kelly, I have other strings to my bow, and I get to show my jazz training and so many other styles, plus play a great character and work with Jack (Jack Chambers as Cosmo Brown). If you want real hoofing, I promise we’ve got it.”

Jack Chambers made history by winning the inaugural season of So You Think You Can Dance in Australia, and anyone who remembers his season finale jive “Fishies” will know what a sensationally diverse dancer he is. Be prepared for some fabulous athleticism in “Make ‘Em Laugh”. Still in his twenties, he’s been performing since he made his debut in The Sound of Music at the age of 10. He’s won choreography awards in New York, worked with the Roland Joffrey Ballet School, and even performed with Liza and Ben Vereen.

“This is a dream though,” he says. “I always loved the movie, but I’ve avoided watching it since I got the role. I want to bring my own take to Cosmo, but it’s such a gift doing this show, and working with Adam. There just aren’t many shows around with roles for “triple threats” who are primarily dancers.”

Gretel Scarlett plays Kathy Selden, the role that made Debbie Reynolds a star. Her last lead role was in Grease, so it’s a case of once again re-creating a role made famous on film. “I try not to think about it in that way,” she says. “I always look for the part of the character that speaks to me rather than imitating what someone else did. But if you have to follow in someone else’s footsteps, you couldn’t do much better than Olivia and Debbie. And this is such a joyful show.”

Jaye and Cameron, working always in tandem, call the cast to their places and Music Supervisor Robert Scott gives the cue for the finale number. There are no costumes, just rehearsal clothes and somewhat ordinary looking silver umbrellas. But looks are deceiving - as the dancers move and open the umbrellas all the colours of the rainbow are revealed underneath and you would swear you can hear the sound of those April showers even as you sing along….

“I’m singin’ in the rain,

Just singin’ in the rain

What a glorious feeling……”

And the feeling is Magic…and timeless. Gene, Donald, and Debbie would be pleased.

See for yourselves.

Singin’ In the Rain opens on May 12th, 2016 at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne

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