ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - IRV RIKON

- ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT BY IRV RIKON - PLAY REVIEW: SINGIN' AT THE MALTZ - JANUARY 12, 2013

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IRVING RIKON	Fri, Jan 11, 2013 at 10:03 PM
*** ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT BY IRV RIKON PLAY REVIEW: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN AT THE MALTZ - THE MALTZ JUPITER THEATRE has a splash hit! Singin' in the Rain, the stage version of what is arguably the most popular of all screen musicals, is on hand complete with showers that pour over the stage and onto the laps of folks who sit in the first three rows of the theater. - In case you've forgotten (or never knew) the plot, Betty Comden and Adolph Green's hilarious book tells what happened to one motion picture studio when it was forced to make the transition from silent films to "talkies". It had a box office bonanza with the romantic team of Don Lockwood (Curt Dale Clark) and Lina Lamont (Emily Stockdale,) but Lina's voice is such that it ain't at all romantic, so the studio finds itself facing serious financial trouble.  - Then, too, Lina believes that Don loves her off-screen. When young Kathy Seldon(Lauren Blackman) walks in, and Don is smitten by her, Lina is most displeased. And when Lina is displeased, studio heads -- to say nothing of Don and his sidekick Cosmo Brown (Brian Shepard) -- better run for cover! - Like The Music Man, which preceded this show at the Maltz, comparison with the movie is inevitable, and again this production comes off very well indeed. As with his contemporary, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, who played Don Lockhard in the film, was so good as to become a bona fide screen legend. But Mr. Clark is handsome, dances very well, probably has a better voice than Gene Kelly, and rates overall as a fine stage presence. Mr. Shepard's performance as Cosmo I would put on a par with Donald O'Connor's, no small praise that.  - Teenager Debbie Reynolds was as cute as the old-fashioned button when she appeared in the film, but Miss Blackman can also sing, dance and act. Her ingenue is appealing. Many of us seem to be falling victim to new technologies and, as the role requires, in her manner as villainous, Miss Stockdale is appealing. One hopes to see her again. - Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown's songs are the stuff of the Great American Songbook: In addition to the title song, there's "Good Morning," "Make 'em Laugh," "You Were Meant for Me" and "You Are My Lucky Star," among others. - The technical staff truly works hard as Director/Choreographer Marc Robin does some interesting, unexpected things. His incorporation of what are supposed to be screen tests are worthwhile comic bits all their own. "Make 'em Laugh" ends surprisingly, and the couch of "Good Morning" is upside down. Withal, even the curtain call rains with applause! In short, this Maltz production is cheerfully sunny.  - As something of a footnote, the show is co-produced with the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Closing date is January 27. Running February 5 -17 is the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Doubt. For reservations and additional information on all this and more telephone 575-2223 or online: www.jupitertheatre.org. -- 30 -- -