REVIEW:

Singing in the Rain

Wales Millennium Centre

ELECTRIFYING dance scenes and classic musical numbers combine with 12,000 litres of water in the Wales Millennium Centre’s festive offering.

Direct from the West End, the critically acclaimed production of Singin' in the Rain has proved a smash hit with critics and audiences of all ages.

It is packed full of the charm, romance, comedy and tinsel town glamour of one the world's best loved movies, and features all the songs from the glorious MGM score including Good Morning, Make 'em Laugh, Moses Supposes and the classic Singin' in the Rain.

The musical transports audiences back to 1927, when Hollywood is moving away from the era of the silent movies and into the brave new world of talking pictures. The only problem is one of the studio’s biggest stars has a voice that does not match her beauty.

Stepping into the sizable toe-tapping shoes of Hollywood legend Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood, is the charismatic and very capable James Leece, who has clocked up appearances in musical productions of Dirty Dancing, and Oliver!, as well as starring in ITV’s hit show Mr Selfridge.

He is joined on stage by Emmerdale, Casualty and Dynasty star Maxwell Caulfield, who plays studio boss R F Simpson, and West End leading lady Amy Ellen Richardson has the charm and sultry voice of Lockwood’s love interest Kathy Selden.

Stephen Anelli threatens to steal the show as Lockwood’s best friend and side-kick Cosmo Brown, with his slapstick performance of Make ‘em Laugh bringing some members of the audience to their feet. But perhaps the surprise package of the show is the incredible comedy performance of former Steps singer Faye Tozer, who brought barrels of laughs in the role of the uniquely-voiced beauty Lina Lamont.

I won’t give too much away, but I should warn audience members who have tickets at the front of the theatre to bring an umbrella!

Singin' In The Rain runs until January 5. For tickets call the box office on 029 2063 6464 or book online at www.wmc.org.uk