Singin' In The Rain - Birmingham Hippodrome

Returning to Birmingham's Hippodrome Theatre for another musical fix for this month of March, this time around I had booked tickets to see the current UK tour of Singin' In The Rain. I'm sucker for a classic film that's been artistically crafted into a musical so I just knew it was the right thing to book my tickets for another show at Birmingham's Hippodrome! You know I just love to sing in the rain! 

Typically the rain was bucketing down as I made my way to the theater for the evening's performance of 'Singin' In The Rain' so I knew that I picked the perfect night to see the show. I couldn't wait to see the musical for I just adore the film based in the 1920's, I was very excited for being a student can mean cultured evenings to the theater because I'm leaving the stereotypical antics for another time. Captured to the left is the ever-changing sign at the Birmingham Hippodrome theater that displays Don Lockwood, known in the movies as Gene Kelly. I had recently been to see Fiddler On The Roof just the other week so I wanted to see something more uplifting, I did really enjoy that musical just to clarify. Would my mid-week theater treat match or exceed my usual student night out on Hurst Street? Yes it most certainly did! Play on! 

Curtain up! Ready and waiting I loved the show from the opening act at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood. I wanted to keep the image of the film in my head as the musical spectacle progressed in front of me! Cosmo 'Stephane Anelli' Brown began with his hopeless personality of always getting over-shadowed by the main stars, but I knew he would have his time to shine! Ready and waiting the stars of the 'Dueling Cavalier' made their way to center stage to greet us the audience, poised to tell his ramshackle of a story Don ' James Leece' Lockwood and Lina 'Faye Tozer' Lamont presented themselves to their adoring fans at their glitzy movie premiere. The ensemble played their part well but I wanted to see it rain. Had I been transported back to the 1920's? I was sold by the first opening scenes for the acting and attention to detail was amazing! I don't know if its just my luck but I choose some darn good shows to see!?

With a romance blossoming between Lockwood and Seldon the momentum of this show only picked up the pace to reveal the next 'wow' moment! Lamont with her awful squawk of a New York accent was slowly silenced for the time being, but her plot would be announced within due course. It didn't take a genius to work out that a new edge needed to be carved for the fate of Monumental Pictures. The news from the 'Fan Magazine's' reported that Lockwood and Lamont would be engaged to be married but I just didn't see any genuine chemistry between those two starlets off stage. Warner Bros had stole the show, but something would turn up for the stars of 'Singin' In The Rain' so fear not! I shamelessly admit that I would of loved an accent portrayed by Lamont, a 'Tragedy' one could say? The woes of deadlines and skint student living left my mind for that time, it's always good to prescribe yourself with a trip to the theater because it better than any medicine! 

Times were changing bringing the invention of a talking picture so Lockwood, Brown and Seldon got their think caps on and talked the whole night through! Singing 'Good Morning' the triumphant trio plotted to dub Lamont's voice over with Seldon's to save the newly named 'Dancing Cavalier' and to welcome Seldon into the Monumental Pictures family! New dances scenes burst on to the stage that sung to the tune of 'Got To Dance!' Somewhere and somehow the head honcho J.R Simpson had to agree to the new plan that the clever trio had concocted! Now, I did think that Cosmo deserved to get some credit for renaming the new show, I think that guy deserves a promotion! Now I wish you a very 'Good Morning' to you and you and oh you! Every 'Good Morning' has to inevitably have a few rain clouds for Lockwood wished Seldon a fond farewell before royally 'Singin' In The Rain' I shall not tell a lie for I witnessed real life rain, well as far as the Hippodrome could forecast! With little under fifty minutes to go until the finale I made sure I tweeted all about the show to the theater in question and to the show's twitter feed. Let it rain!

The curtain call beckoned for the finale but a few home truths had to be dealt with! The rerecording of the new 'Dancing Cavalier' proved to be effortless for Seldon but for Lamont a certain microphone got in her way so it had to be Seldon's way or the highway! Lamont thought she got wise once she discovered her vocals were being dubbed over with Seldon's harmonies, citing her contract Lamont blurted a pack of lies to the magazine and newspapers to try and set some story straight or whatever way was good for her, well she was actually right for once! Cosmo thrived in his new role, making his presence known during Lockwood's elocution lessons to sing 'Moses Supposes' alongside Lockwood to the vocal coaches dismay! On a personal note I was really pleased that 'Faye Tozer' played the part of Lamont for I loved Steps when I was a boy, oh I still do! Back to the show! With the rain clouds making way for a sunnier day the 'Hollywood' filming lots made way for Monumental Pictures first talking picture, the show must go on!

I hoped the rain would appear once again at Birmingham's Hippodrome Theatre for the finale grew ever closer. The show remodeled with Seldon's vocals worked a treat, but to who's disadvantage it was about to become clear. With the rapturous applause growing ever louder Lockwood and Lamont made their final bows at least five times before Lamont decided to deliver a speech, bearing in mind she was always forbidden from talking in public due to her squawk of a New York accent but J.R Simpson decided to let her go forth with her speech at her own peril, for she didn't realize what consequences would become of her actions! Booed off the stage Lamont honestly didn't realize her accent sounded so hard to bare! Muddling together it was decided that Seldon would provide the vocals to an impromptu performance of a specific song made my Lamont. Seldon didn't approve of the decision but knew she had to serve her contract with 'Dignity!' With that final Seldon washed her hands of Lockwood for the decision that had been made, but that would be resolved after Lamont was revealed for what she really was, a beauty without the voice! Now, I just love 'Singin' In The Rain!' 

Joseph Harrison