Royal City Musical Theater Celebrates its 30th Year in Style with a Classic Hollywood Favourite.

As we entered, the Massey Theater was bustling with opening night excitement.  The live orchestra tuned up in the pit and audience settled in to a performance of the musical, Singing in the Rain.  

“It is iconic shows like “Singing in the Rain” that the Royal City Musical Theater Society has prided itself on bringing to life on the stage for the past 29 years and #30 does not disappoint!”

• Kristine Ketter, President Royal City Musical Theatre

The play itself is set in old Hollywood as it transitions from the silent screen to the ‘talkies’.  The stars of the day: Don Lockwood, (played by Andrew Cohen) Lina Lamont, (played by Robyn Wallis) and Don’s childhood friend, Cosmo Brown (played by Blake Sartin) enter the scene at the premiere of their latest film and from there, flow swiftly into the making of their next film The Dueling Cavalier.  However, after seeing the success of the Jazz Singer, production of The Dueling Cavalier is halted as RF Simpson, (played by David Cotton ) and Roscoe Dexter (played by Peter Stainton) decide to remake it into a talking movie.  Along the way, Don is smitten with Kathy Selden (played by Tessa Trach) and together with Cosmo, they turn the movie into a musical.  No small feat, especially considering Lena Lamont can’t sing…

I would say that the RCMT had big shoes to fill, taking on the challenge of this a fast-paced, much-beloved musical.  And I think, overall, they delivered.   As a whole, the performance was crisp and complex.   Whether the cast was dancing en masse, in a trio, a duo or on their own; director and choreographer Valerie Easton brought the show to life and successfully recreated those iconic moments which hearkened back to the original movie. And, in fact, I would venture to say, the live ‘tapping’ was one place where the show out-shone its movie counterpart.  It was a unique and captivating thing to experience the cast dance the stage in unabashed, old school tap numbers.

Musical Director, James Bryson, conducted the orchestra expertly and was incorporated into the play in 2^nd act, a nice tribute to his many years with the company; taking part of one of the ‘laugh-out-loud’ moments in the play. 

To live up to the charisma that Gene Kelly brought to this role is a daunting task, to say the least, but Cohen (whose credits include Buddy in Elf and as well, has won two Ovation awards) did the role justice with his jaunty exuberance and picture perfect dancing. Trach, (who has been seen in A Christmas Carol and in Grease), gave a sparkling performance of Kathy Selden. The comedic Blake Sartin (who has played Billy in 42^nd Street and Henry in Next to Normal) negotiated an energetic and deft performance of Cosmo Brown and he ‘made us laugh’ both physically and verbally throughout the play.   By no means forgotten, and at moments stealing the show, was Robyn Wallis (whose credits include: Jeeves Takes a Bow and Noises Off!) who delighted the audience with her razor sharp portrayal of Lina Lamont.      

RCMT embraced its 30^th year continuing to strive for excellence.  This performance was challenging. Challenging roles all around, challenging comedy, challenging choreography, challenging dialogue, and perhaps the most challenging part of all… portraying a musical that everyone knows so well.  Judging by the standing ovation, I would say that RCMT not only met the challenge but rose beyond it to give the audience an Opening Night of classic delight!    

Image photo credit: Tim Matheson

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