The Châtelet is closed for two years for repairs. Their Christmas show this year is Singin’ in the Rain and it is staged in a temporary theatre in the Grand Palais.
The reviews have been good and the 2,800 seat auditorium is sold out for the whole run. I have been aware of heightened security on this visit. Every gallery, museum and theatre has airport style security checks. It was remarkable how little fuss there was getting 2,800 people seated on Wednesday evening.
The show is a faithful adaption of the 1953 film and the first half (one hour 35 minutes) closes with the Gene Kelly character singing under a lamp post in a deluge. The film ends with the two lead characters posing in front of a poster for their new talkie – Singin’ in the Rain. The musical brings the poster to life for a foot-stomping, splashing finale.
It is performed in English with French sur-titles; it is slick, stylish, funny. Costumes are by Anthony Powell, veteran English designer who was an apprentice of Cecil Beaton and has three Academy Awards for his many films. He goes for a monochrome palette evoking the black and white films the show is about. Some of the choreography is from the film but English dancer and choreographer Stephen Mear has added and embellished. Canadian opera director Robert Carsen has a sure touch and the musical direction is safe in Gareth Valentine’s Welsh hands. Last but not least credit goes to Norbert Mori of Mori Piscines in Geneva for making it rain so copiously.
Was anything missing? Well Richard Mawbey doing the wigs would have been the finishing touch.