There is no doubting the dedication of the actors, dancers, technicians, set builders, costumiers, wig and make-up team, stage manager, backstage crew, graphic designers, lighting and sound team, rainmaker, choreographer, musical director and director of Singin' in the Rain.
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That's how many it takes to deliver this much-loved musical at The Players Theatre, and, they're all volunteers. Hours of dance and vocal rehearsal, construction and behind the scenes work from about 55 people is the monumental effort needed to produce the show. Many involved work, some full time, while others study, so they're contribution comes above and beyond earning a living or getting an education.
The Players Theatre is a non profit organisation which in 2019, has brought the black dramedy Dinner, The Addams Family musical and a One Act Play Festival to audiences. Every cent earned is poured back into the theatre's running costs, maintenance and the staging of productions.
It's curtain up this Friday, and as director Lance Thompson says in the program: "We started out this project with the ambition to bring a smile to our audiences faces. We hope that you enjoy the show and that our ambition is fulfilled". Having seen the preview - which always reveals a few flaws and last minute tidy-ups - I can assure you the audiences will leave the theatre humming the tunes and smiling broadly.
For those not familiar with the 1952 film starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor and Jean Hagan, it is the story of two much-loved silent film stars who are thrust by their studio into the new "talking picture" format to compete against a rival studio's smash hit The Jazz Singer.
The problem arises when leading lady Lina Lamont (Kate Petrie) talks she sounds like a cat squealing after its tail is stepped on. Meanwhile her leading man Don Lockwood (Players newcomer Dane Sheddon), with whom she is enamoured, has fallen for "legitimate stage actress" Kathy Sheldon (Simone Sherrin).
To save the film from disaster, Don's best friend Cosmo Brown (Daniel Parlevliet) and Kathy convince studio boss R.F. Simpson (Paul Bishop) to change The Duelling Cavalier to The Dancing Cavalier adding musical numbers and using Kathy's voice to dub Lina's lines and singing.
The plot thickens but no spoilers here! If you love tap dancing, roaring '20s costumes, prat falls, romance and fun, Singin' in the Rain has it all - and a few surprises! Fridays and Saturdays 8pm, Sundays 2pm, July 26 - August 11. Plus matinee Saturday, August 10, 2pm. Tickets $20-$35 and $40 opening night gala at playerstheatre.org.au, Glasshouse 6581 8888 or one hour before the show at Players box office, cnr Lord and Gordon streets.
