Singin' In The RainIpswich Operatic and Dramatic Society members Ipswich RegentApril 16-19 RAIN fell in the Ipswich Regent last night as a masterpiece of set design allowed showers to fall from above the stage.

Singin' In The Rain

Ipswich Operatic and Dramatic Society members

Ipswich Regent

April 16-19

RAIN fell in the Ipswich Regent last night as a masterpiece of set design allowed showers to fall from above the stage.

Lead character Paul Stone tap danced and splashed his way through the ever-increasing puddles. The pivotal scene which the audience had been waiting for, proved to be the highlight of the two-hour show.

Opening night nerves could have been a factor when the American accents of a couple of characters slipped on occasion, but there was no doubting the dance and vocal skills which shone through - especially from Stone (who had the unenviable task of following in Gene Kelly's soggy shoes) as Don Lockwood, Jane Bowen as Kathy Seldon and Stephen Watt as Cosmo Brown.

In addition to the clever sets, the 1920s-style costumes for this production were stunning, with the chorus line sporting ostrich feather fans and sequins. For me, one of the most striking episodes was the black and gold themed party scene after the film premiere.

The show took about half an hour to warm up, and the pace was not helped by slightly over-indulgent movie segments played on a screen above the stage, for longer than was really necessary.

Yet the title number Singin' In The Rain and the song Good Morning were both packed with the sort of popular dance action we wanted to see. When the performers really lived their roles in the second half, you could almost forget their 'amateur' status.

This is a show which gives its main performers a chance to shine, just as its own plot finally gives Kathy Selden an opportunity to star. I'm sure the talents of IODS members will really come to the fore as they relax into future performances.

If you like the glamour of old musicals, this is a show to see.

T Sparling