Matthew Moss School production of “Singing in the Rain”

Singing in the Rain

Our latest school production “Singing in the Rain” was a huge success. Student Haleema Akhtar has delightfully recaptured the magic of the show.

I was standing as close as I possibly could to the stage, with my camera dangerously perched, already enthralled. Although I was yet to photograph the phenomenon I knew to be the musical ‘Singing in the Rain’, I eagerly anticipated the start of the show. After a great turn out the audience was seated, and as soon as the lights turned a shade of blue, and the music was pumping out from the fabulous musicians, we all knew that this was going to be something special.

Set in 1927 (The fabulous Roaring Twenties in America), Matthew Moss High School did a great job of portraying the excitement and romanticism of the times. The infamous on-screen couple Don Lockwood (played by Alex Wantling) and Lina Lamont (played by Sehar Rafiq) are cast as lovers on-screen. Although, Lina believes that the screen romance is actually true love; she fails to realise Don does not feel the same way about her. However, her fans think they are a couple off-screen too. Therefore when she gets the chance to act in an on-screen musical with Don, she believes it will be beautiful.

However, her dreams of performing or singing with Don are diminished when she is told she cannot sing, even with the help of a voice coach. At this climax in the scene, Sehar’s blatantly American accent is truly amazing and remarkably and she is able to stay in the same accent throughout the entire show. This was one of the things that I found very enjoyable as not only did Alex and Sehar capture the essence of on-screen couples in Hollywood at the time, but also added a flavour of comedy and sarcasm along the way. Sehar also took the cake in the face very well and it just goes to show how the actors in the musical were all very professional.

Alex also portrayed the character of a great actor wanting what he can’t have “I can’t get her out of my mind” he claimed, as his friend Cosmo replied “How could you - she's the first dame who hasn't fallen for your line since you were four”. It was little comical lines like these, played with great enthusiasm, which ensured that the audience were crying with laughter by the end of the show.

Because of the introduction of talkies at the time and Lina’s inability to sing in tune, there was no way Lina could play the part of the love interest (or that her voice couldn’t play the part, at the very least). Her voice was then dubbed over by a mysterious girl named Kathy Selden, played by Abby Walker, who is a great and aspiring singer. Just to match the typical love plot twist - Don falls in love with Kathy off-screen – “I happen to be in love with her”. This however is where the cliff hanger comes into place because Kathy’s career could be in jeopardy as well as her fate of ever achieving her dream and becoming a star.

Aside to the romanticism, ‘Singing in the Rain’ is also a very comical show: in my opinion, one aspect of which is a light hearted romantic comedy. Cosmo, played by Abdeel Azmat was an excellent imitation of Don’s ‘dorky friend’. He was one of the characters that helped the musical be so whimsical and ensure that the plot line was as accurate as possible, and still kept the audience on their toes.

I have to applaud everyone who was involved with the show: the Director Mrs Ryan, Mr Hayes, technicians, choreographers, musicians and many more, as they put on a truly enjoyable and delightful show to watch. The months and extra rehearsals did pay off as an audience member quoted “I loved how the relationship between Cosmo and Don was played out, great acting!”

The event was indeed “a glorious feeling” to be a part of the extravaganza that was a Matthew Moss High School production.