Title = Singin' in the Rain
Genre = Musical
Theater/City = Diablo Theatre Company / Walnut Creek
Production Dates = March 2, 2013
Prices = $49
Click Here For More Info & Tickets - - - > http://diablotheatre.org/blog/singin-in-the-rain
Rating = 4 Golden Bridges
Reviewed By = Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
Comments
It
is not easy to produce a musical like Singin’
in the Rain.
Based on the 1952 American film, starring the great dancing legend Gene Kelly,
considered one of the greatest MGM musicals of all-time. His iconic
great Singin’ In the
Rain number, is still one of the greatest scenes in the history of
film making. This toe-tapping dancing musical is playing now through March
2, at the Lesher Center for the Arts at the Hoffman Theater in Walnut
Creek, presented by The Diablo Theater Company.
I
truly enjoyed this presentation. Extremely entertaining for the whole
family, a great theater experience. The tap- dancing numbers are a
real treat and something from another era, which still requires great
amount of talent, with rhythmic live music for all to enjoy.
A
troupe of 33 dancers and singers, are put to the test in a very nice
facility, but considering it is not a large stage, they do as well as
can be expected, while keeping a fast pace with a journey to the
time when movies were changing from silent to “talkies”.
In
1926 Don Juan was the first motion picture to feature a synchronized
sound system. One year later The
Jazz Singer, with the
great Al Jolson, produced by Warner Brothers, with Vitaphone sound,
put audio into movies to stay.
Of
the 25 motion pictures in the American Film Institute list of great
movie musicals, the majority started as Broadway shows, and then
moved to the screen. However, Singin’
n the Rain is the
exception, as it originated at MGM studios, at the very start of what
would make these studios the most famous for big production musicals.
Dyan
McBride Directs Singin’
in the Rain, featuring some
of the most famous songs including, “Good Morning”, “Moses
Supposes”, (a real tongue-twister)”, Make them Laugh” and
“Singin’ in the Rain”.
At
the beginning of the sound synchronized movies Don Lockwood, a big
silent movie star, needs to make the transition, or could be extinct
from the movie business. This could represent the end to Monumental
Pictures. Lockwood is played by Ken Pinto, who does an excellent
job, handling the theme song, with an umbrella and under the rain,
while singing and dancing. Don's popularity is tied to his leading
lady, Lina Lamont, with a voice “not suited” for sound pictures.
Young Cosmo is played by Nathan Corell, who really impressed me with
his versatility and overall talent. Both Lockwood and Cosmos find
another voice for Lamont, played with distinction by Mary Kalita.
Lina Lamont could not sing, so they find Kathy Selden to sing for
her. All that Lina Lamont has to do, is move her lips, on the songs
that are really being sung by Selden, played by Melissa
WolfKlain.
An
excellent twelve piece orchestra directed by Cheryl Yee Glass, brings
the whole night alive. A real delight with costumes of that period,
well casted with well built dancers and a good ensemble makes Singin’
in the Rain very much
fun.
I
give Singin’ in the
Rain four Golden Bridges, out
of a total of five.
For
more information and tickets, visit www.diablotheater.org.
Singin in the Rain’
ends on March 2, 2013. Easy access from any part of the Bay Area in
downtown Walnut Creek, just off the 680 freeway exit South Main
Street. Go and enjoy it, take the whole family, it is a treat!
Tickets can be purchased by calling (925)943-SHOW(7469)and at www.leshercenter.org
About Amaury:
Born in Cuba,1944. Had to leave in 1961 because of the Castro-Communist revolution. US Citizen,US Army Vietnam era veteran. Journalist/Broadcaster. Listed in "Marquis Who's Who in America". Major League and Basketball broadcaster. Inducted into various Halls of Fame. Currently the Vice President of The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame.
www.hispanicbaseballmuseum.com
www.hispanicbaseballmuseum.com
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See you at the show!
Cheers!!