Today's Top Picks
Click a day to view events
Search for things to do
- Events
- Movies
- Dining
- Venues
Arts
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Singin’ in the Rain’ is a puddle of mud | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Chris Page, Tribune | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 16, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It's a near no-brainer: The charming romantic comedy that starred Gene Kelly as a Hollywood actor smitten with a rising starlet (Debbie Reynolds) in the transition from silent film to talkies, is full of razzle-dazzle, boasting scads of dancing and charm in spades. Too bad the transition to stage fails to carry the same charm. Borrowing from a flopped 1985 Broadway adaptation (helmed by a pre-"Movin' Out" Twyla Tharp), Hale director-choreographer Cambrian James throws tons of props and special effects, an earful of tap dancing, and a handful of solid community acting talents into a show that only makes one wish it was a Blockbuster night at home with the DVD instead. The script and the director combined, however, haven't done much to whip up a compelling plot arc or effective transitions between most scenes. The end result feels more like a cinematic tribute than a stand-alone effort. James' leading man, young 20-something Mesan Adam DiBernardo, certainly has the pipes to tackle the iconic role of Don Lockwood, but as an actor he exudes a blank, Teflon-like personality. It's impossible to feel any chemistry between him and chorus girl Kathy, played by Ione Skye look-alike Niki Torrens. Torrens, though, exudes the requisite spunk and has warm vocal chops galore. Mostly the show belongs to Alaina Beauloye, a versatile Valley actress here tackling the role of Lina Lamont, a daffy silent-film star with a helium voice unsuited for talkies. (For those unfamiliar with the plot, Kathy ends up re-dubbing Lina's film soundtrack, and that conflict forms the crux of the drama.) Beauloye hams it up to great effect. Her scenes spark with wit. The Hale's production, like the '80s Broadway effort, makes much of the special effect that ends Act I, a rain shower that sops the stage as Don Lockwood twirls an umbrella in romantic rapture while singing the title tune. Unfortunately, it proves a logistical nightmare: The story grinds to a halt as a slew of cast members and stagehands scuttle to set up the water-catching sidewalk set pieces - which, on the night I attended, shook enough to almost trip up DiBernardo. Too bad the Hale used the wow factor of indoor rain to dramatically more thrilling effect in last summer's "The Rainmaker." There's another effect used heavily in the Hale's "Singin'," and that's projected video - black-and-white movies shown on opposite walls of the intimate, in-the-round playhouse to illustrate the 1920s films being created in the show. The Hale has been taking advantage of those projectors a lot lately ("A Christmas Carol," etc.), and though it works here, it certainly runs the risk of being overdone, blurring the line between the joy of live theater and watching TV. That's a bit like "Singin' " itself. Some things, it seems, belong onstage, while others need the screen to truly come alive. THEATER REVIEW “Singin’ in the Rain” When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, closing March 29 Where: Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert Cost: $20-$22 Information: (480) 497-1181 or www.haletheatrearizona.com — Grade: C+ Contact Chris Page by email, or phone (480) 898-5656 |
Rate this article
© 2008 East Valley Tribune. All rights reserved.
Reader comments (4)
This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Responsibility lies solely with the comment author.
Gilbert Lund
Chris:You mentioned last summer's rainmaker used rain more dramatically. I'm surprised you saw rainmaker because I don't remember seeing that you ever reviewed that show. Nice to know you thought it had some merit.
Gilbert Suggest removal of this comment
February 16, 2008
Gary
Teflon
One entry found.
Teflon
Main Entry:
Tef·lon Listen to the pronunciation of Teflon
Pronunciation:
\ˈte-ˌflän\
Function:
trademark
—used for synthetic fluorine-containing resins used especially for molding articles and for nonstick coatings
Did you actually mean to say he acted like teflon? Or were you not smart enough to look up the word in the Merriam-Webster dictionary?
Just wondering.
"Hale has been taking advantage of those projectors a lot lately ("A Christmas Carol," etc.), "
In stead of reviewing the show and talking about the dance numbers and the songs, you talk about how hale has use projectors in the last show they did. I'm confused on whether this was a review or you babbling on about nothing.
Oh and the next time you go to review a show, I suggest you arrive in appropriate attire for the theatre. The Theatre isnt just some sporting event. And please don't bring a satchel of food in with you like it is the dollar movies. It was very distracting for me. I sat fairly close to you.
P.S. It's NEVER appropriate to hop over railing and enter backstage. You of all people should know your theatre edicate...oh wait...that's right. According to Bio on this site you know nothing of the theatre. Doesn't shock me a bit.
Maybe you should try reviewing hamburger stands. It seems more your type of scene.
Comment has been reviewed
February 18, 2008
ritainaredhat
oh, this review couldn't be more wrong. I just saw Singing in the Rain this past weekend and I loved it. I didn't want it to end. Everyone in my group couldn't stop talking about it. The dancing was lively and fun, the singing was beautiful and the two leads made a great couple. The young man that played the Gene Kelly part was was just beautiful to look at.The supporting actors were great too. I really enjoyed the gal who played Lina. She is so funny. For her to go from the part she played in Rainmaker to this is just amazing. The guy who plays Cosmos was very funny too with lots of energy. My only complaint is that it was hard to hear everything he said. But other than that we all had a wonderful time.
This show is right up there with my favorites at Hale. First is Scarlet Pimpernel, Second would be this show and third would be either Sound of Music or Joseph and the Dreamcoat because I just loved the dancing. Suggest removal of this comment
March 20, 2008
gilgal
WOW. you obviously did NOT see the same singing int he rain that i did....i thought it was fabulous and the singing and dancing was mesmorizing...i really think you ought to get another job because all you've used is a bunch of adjectives that you found in the thesaurus that are wrongly placed and your attitude is less than tolerable... Suggest removal of this commentMarch 30, 2008