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THEATER REVIEW: ‘Singin’ in the Rain’

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There’s something about good tap dancing that feeds on itself. You can feel the energy start to build, almost sense the heat from the dancers. It doesn’t take much to imagine you can actually see sparks generating from those furiously tapping toes.

Such a moment occurs not once but several times in the thoroughly happy “Singing’ in the Rain” at Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater. Dancing is king in this production, and veteran choreographer Kaye Migaki delivers some inspired moves. One of my favorites comes in the standout number “Moses Supposes” in which our two young leading men — Dominic Grijalva and Daniel Hernandez — embark on a ferocious tap series. You could actually see Grijalva’s smile widen as he gets faster — it’s like watching the supremely confident, cocky enthusiasm of a race car driver pushing the accelerator pedal to its limit. “Oh yeah,” his expression said. “This is fun.”

The stage version of “Singing’ in the Rain” came along decades after the beloved movie, and I’m guessing there are plenty of people who would have been fine just sticking with the cinematic version. The movie reigns, no question about it, and the stage version has to content itself more with paying homage to a classic than standing on its own as a sparkling standalone piece of musical theater. But the material is still great, and co-directors Joshua Montgomery and Elizabeth Fiester give us a mostly spiffy, happy experience.

Hernandez plays Don Lockwood, the Gene Kelly role in the movie, and Grijalva plays his sidekick, Cosmo Brown (the Donald O’Connor role). Together they spin the familiar tale: Hollywood is on the cusp of the age of talking movies, which doesn’t exactly bode well for Don Lockwood’s longtime pairing with the beautiful Lina Lamont (a strongly played Paige Parker). It turns out that Lamont has a screechy speaking voice. When the movie studio decides to turn its latest film from a silent into a talkie, hilarity predictably occurs.

There’s a romantic complication, of course: Lockwood falls for a struggling actress named Kathy Selden (Danielle Behrens in an assured Good Company Players debut), who has a voice like an angel’s — and would be the perfect candidate to dub over the caustic Lina’s screech.

One of the major strengths is the show’s production design. From David Pierce’s beautifully crafted set (complete with a subtly lighted backdrop of the Hollywood hills) to Ginger Kay Lewis-Reed’s scrumptious period costumes (along with swanky movie-star glamour she comes up with some choice comic ensembles, including what look like the world’s most explosively plaid pajamas for a vaudeville routine), the production sparkles. Evan Commins’ lights and Andrea Henrickson’s sound are spot-on. My only disappointment when it comes to the dazzle factor is the title number (and first-act finale), which has to rely on a lighting effect rather than actual wet stuff. I understand the budgetary and logistical reasons, but to me, the number was a bit of a let-down.

Film sequences (credited to Don Thompson) play a large role in the production as well. This is where we get to see the cheesy silent-movie acting style of the era, brought forth with exaggerated aplomb by Hernandez and Parker. The transitions between the projected images and the live action were seamless on opening night, and the comic moments were exceedingly well played.

Standouts in the cast include Jacob Carrillo as a wacky diction coach and Steve Souza as a blustery director. Kudos, too, to the dancers in the show-stopping number “Broadway Melody.”

Behrens has a sweet voice and infectious stage presence, and she has nice romantic chemistry with the suave and accomplished Hernandez. (Another dance and song highlight of the show is “Good Morning,” featuring the pair plus Grijalva, which includes yet more inspired choreography.) Parker is terrific at her (intentionally) awful vocals in “What’s Wrong With Me?”

As for Hernandez and Grijalva, their enthusiasm knows no bounds. Still, their solo singing wasn’t as powerful on opening night as I was expecting, possibly because of range issues. This is not one of the stronger GCP shows of the year in terms of leading vocals. But the pair make up for it with sheer stage wattage.

Grijalva has a couple of tour de force moments, including a vigorous and funny one-man rendition of the song “Make ‘Em Laugh.” There are times (and I want to say this delicately because I’m such a big fan of Grijalva’s enthusiasm) that he could actually dial down his performance. He can be almost too eager to please at times.

Then again, if Grijalva didn’t have that fire under his feet, we wouldn’t get those moments of him pushing the pedal to the metal. Even without actual water on stage, thanks to strong direction, inspired design and a talented cast, this “Singin’ in the Rain” is less a gentle mist and more an electrical storm.

Responses to "THEATER REVIEW: ‘Singin’ in the Rain’"

Bette says:

I agree with the vocals. There are Good Company Players in the bunch that I’ve seen in past productions that could sing those parts in their sleep. Why they cast on appearance always amazes me. I have actually stopped going to certain theater company’s performances around town because of this practice. Instead of seeing the same ol’ faces (company favorites no doubt), I’d rather see someone who can handle the role.

Heather P says:

I find the issues of casting to be very complex and fraught- especially in musicals. Do you cast the person who can sing the role perfectly, but perhaps cannot pull off the role’s energy or type? Or do you cast the person who can act the role beautifully but only sing it passably?

I have a bias for acting before singing- but of course I prefer both to be excellent.

And sometimes the casting pool doesn’t yield those people who can sing (or act) a part in their sleep. Not all auditions get the same people and not all companies audition the same way.

Not having seen this production yet, I cannot say whether you’re right about there being other people right for those roles. But sometimes going with those who aren’t quite perfect– but are more than willing and eager– give us more interesting and unique performances to enjoy, rather than catering to the same expectations over and over again.

Jane says:

Once again I wonder how. Daniel Hernandez gets cast in a role he can’t handle “gotttaaaaaaa daaaaa (voice crack)nnnce” and let’s be honest Dominic Girjalva (who unfortunately is NO Donald O’Conner) Is letting his ego outshine his talent onstage (make em laugh and many of his showy bits onstage became an exercise in mugging) and I especially don’t enjoy seeing thirteen year old girls from the Junior Company dressed like Kit Kat Girls from Cabaret. The lighting in the title number while slightly reminiscent of rain did VERY little to convince me that Don Lockwood was indeed singing in the rain.

That said there were a few shining stars that made the production not a complete waste. Paige Parker was a scene stealer and is a beauty who GOT the show and the time period of glitz and glamor of Hollywood of the twenties. Danielle Beherens as Kathy Selden is the dream ingenue she can sing, she can act, and she can dance circles around her male costars (sadly she isn’t given much tap dancing solos to work with. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Behrens does next on the Roger Rockas stage. Jacob Carrillo showed fine singing in the production number Beautiful Girl, (which for a moment made me forget I was watching community dinner theatre and was seeing a Busby Berkley number. I agree with Donald on Mr. Carrillo as the diction coach he has fine comedic chops and I’d like to see his take on Cosmo. (I almost forgot he was in Calamity Jane, showgirl drag and all)

The set was astonishingly simple in it’s art deco glory. It showed the tinsel of Tinseltown while giving the illusion of being a studio set (the ever present Monumental Pictures Marquee for example). The clever use of the projection screen which usually has advertisements, trivia and clips of past performances was used cleverly for the Silent film portions (where we once again see that Paige Parker has done her homework on silent movie acting/melodrama acting).

Lastly I have to mention the LA street backdrop, the Owl Drug Store art is breathtaking if you look closely you’ll see Donald O’Conner, Gene Kelly, and Debbie Reynolds in a pose from the Good Morning number from the movie,And serving them is a familiar face as the soda jerk…the dearly missed face of Steve Pepper. In that art alone I got nostalgic for not just the golden age of Hollywood, but the golden age of theatre in Fresno and the Good Company Players.

Fonda says:

JEALOUS JANE.

Martin Martinez says:

Saw it on opening night. I loved it. The Broadway melody number which in the film version was boring comes to life in this production.Great debut for danielle.

Ginny says:

Saw it last weekend. Found ALL the leads to be very endearing and talented! We are so lucky to have a company that brings us consistently professional productions!

James says:

I was in many musicals for this company years ago. I auditioned for a show which had extensive dancing and singing. I was told I have an amazing voice, and the choreographer said she gave me a perfect score on the dance part, who just happened to be my dance teacher. I didn’t get into the show! Good company players DOES pick favorites rather than talent. I was told by so many people that I should’ve gotten into the show. I did in fact see that show I auditioned for, and it wasn’t up to par, it was a bomb. Many people agreed that it wasn’t what it should have been. They picked favorites rather than dancing and singing talent, which was a emsemble show. That was the last show I ever auditioned for, and its been almost a decade since I’ve been there. Don’t regret making this decision, that place it all about politics.

Heather P says:

Colin Firth once said that it was “much, much easier getting into Hollywood than to get into the Vancouver theatre system.�

(http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Oscar+nominee+Colin+Firth+left+find+work/4167378/story.html)

This sort of thing happens everywhere, at all levels, for myriad reasons. Theaters and actors alike might learn a lesson from Colin in Vancouver. I’ll leave it up to everyone to decide what that lesson might be. lol!

Anonymous says:

@James: Many people are blinded by their talents, and have a false sense of what talent they actually have. I would rather see someone who is modest about their talents, than boast about how good they think they are, and how everyone else thinks they are. Remember, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” It’s all about perspective. It’s not your choice who gets selected. Life is full of letdowns, but it’s also full of opportunities. Don’t let your ego get in the way of what you love to do. I went to an audition workshop, not too long ago, and the woman that spoke to us (by the way who has been in multiple broadway productions), said she felt she was confident that she would land every single part she auditioned for; don’t get me wrong, confidence is vital in an audition…but why did it take her 1,000′s and 1,000′s of auditions until she finally got a role? She didn’t fit the profile. She wasn’t what they were looking for. Obviously, the people responsible for casting this production, thought the people (they chose) fit the “profile.” So please, don’t complain to the entire world, and try to make this company sound like they like to play favorites. “PERSPECTIVE” my friend…that is the final word I will leave you with…

Mitch says:

Dominic needs to button his pants in this picture. Moses Supposes indeed!