Singin’ in the Rain, RicNic Productions Theatre Royal, Winchester (From Daily Echo)

Singin’ in the Rain, RicNic Productions Theatre Royal, Winchester

in Curtain Call

THIS all-teenage company, led by Ashley Riches, Ben Nicholls and Edward Goble, has assembled a fine group of multi-talented actors, singers and dancers.

Based on the Hollywood film starring Gene Kelly, it tells the story of a silent-film company dealing with the advent of ‘talkies’.

Olivia Conroy was superbly over-the-top in the role of screen-star Lina Lamont, her career doubly threatened by her screeching New York accent and because her screen lover, Don Lockwood (the ‘cool’ Mark Smith) had fallen for talented newcomer Kathy Selden (the excellent Sophie Harley).

Equally impressive was Elliott Sturt as Cosmo Brown with solid support from Director Alex Millen (RF Simpson) and Matthew Clayton (Roscoe Dexter).

Costumes, sound and lighting were excellent, with lively musical accompaniment, led by Alex Simpson, and dance sequences (particularly the one featuring choreographer Julia Mantell and Oliver Proudlock-John).

Lastly, top-marks to set-designer Adam Stephenson for the rain-dance and cinema-screen scenes!

ALAN JOHNS