Review: Singin' in the Rain at the Royal Exchange Theatre

Manchester may be famous for its biblical downpours, but this Christmas the Royal Exchange Theatre offers its own shower of showbiz sparkle. Bursting with personality, big characters and tap-dancing flair, Singin’ in the Rain is a complete triumph; a Christmas-season highlight from a theatre that always knows how to deliver a knockout festive musical. Within minutes of the show opening, it feels as though we are in for a glorious night at the theatre.

Director Raz Shaw leans into the joy of the original MGM film while giving the production a fresh, meta-theatrical wink. The familiar story - Hollywood on the cusp of the “talkies”, silent-film star Don Lockwood falling for aspiring showgirl Kathy Seldon, and the delicious chaos surrounding Lina Lamont’s spectacularly terrible speaking voice - plays out with tonnes of charm.

Of course, this is a show packed with big numbers and they all sit perfectly in-the-round, thanks to a uniformly strong cast. From the leading roles to the ensemble, there is a sense that everyone on stage is having an absolute ball.

Carly Mercedes Dyer is a superb Kathy Seldon; sass, warmth and soul wrapped in a true triple threat, charting her rise from plucky showgirl to soaring star with magnetic ease. Her solo 'Lucky Star' is beautifully delivered. Louis Gaunt brings charisma in spades as Don Lockwood, light on his feet, brimming with charm and utterly dazzling in the title number as he turns the rain-soaked stage into a tap-dancing playground. Danny Collins offers a joyous Cosmo Brown, channelling old-school clowning with such gusto that 'Make ’Em Laugh' feels as fresh as ever, although a few finer details may be missed depending on where you are seated.

And when the trio come together for 'Good Morning', it becomes a full-stage burst of tap-dancing joy, earning them a well-deserved breather as the audience whoops and claps. Laura Baldwin rounds out the leading quartet with a wonderfully comical Lina Lamont, relishing every vowel-mangling moment and stealing the show with her brilliantly petulant solo 'What’s Wrong with Me'.

With a tight live band driving the rhythm and a design that revels in the Exchange’s intimacy, from the glorious ensemble work to the beautifully engineered downpour, Singin' in the Rain fizzes with joy from start to finish. It is bold, big-hearted and irresistible; a fresh take on a classic, perfectly cast, affectionately nostalgic and wise enough to honour the film without trying to recreate it frame by frame. It recognises the original and celebrates it - and then has fun with it. A sparkling festive treat and, judging by the standing ovation, a five-star triumph.