THIS scintillating production of Singin’ in the Rain, directed by Elizabeth Newman, with musical director Richard Reeday, is a welcome collaborative venture between Octagon Theatre, Bolton, the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Salisbury Playhouse.

The sheer energy and expertise of the multi-talented cast won well-deserved acclaim for a show that is an absolute delight. Even fans of the classic film, starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, cannot fail to be enthralled by this stage version, with its well-loved tunes, real rain and brilliant dance sequences.

The tiered set, flanked by palm trees, is surmounted by a cleverly angled screen that reveals Monumental Pictures’ efforts to create another successful silent movie – and their subsequent struggle to enter the era of talking pictures, against stiff competition.

Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont, Monumental Pictures’ established stars, pose a problem. Sarah Vezmar is devastating as Lina, whose shrill, strident voice, inability to dance, sing or act is a triple threat to talkie success.

Don Lockwood, her screen partner, played superbly by Matthew Croke, incurs Lina’s fury when he falls in love with Kathy Seldon, a promising young performer played charmingly by Eleanor Brown.

The cast members are all musicians, who stroll around whilst being careful that their instruments are not a target for the rain that is splashed so spectacularly by Don Lockwood’s nifty footwork.

The entire cast deserve individual mention for fantastic feel-good performances: Helen Power is Dora Bailey, Christian Edwards is Cosmo Brown, Philip Starnier is RF Simpson, Richard Colvin is Dexter and Sally Cheng is Olga Mara. Matthew James Hinchliffe, Barbara Hockaday and Wendy Paver complete the line-up amid a galaxy of bright, dripping brollies in a finale that cannot dampen audiences’ delight – even if it’s raining outside too!