VWHS’ ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ a spring treat

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert High School drama took another step upward as the school opened its production Thursday night of Singin’ in the Rain. The play, directed by Michelle Stoller with assistance from Jenelle Sperry and based on the classic movie starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor, is a lighthearted romp through the era of silent films and the birth of “talkies.”

The story starts out with the Gene Kelly character, Don Lockwood, played at VWHS by Daniel Bashore, and his partner, Lina Lamont (Danielle Slagle) big silent movie stars who must make the transition to the newfangled movies that include sound as well as pictures (click here for photos from the production by Mindy Andrews).

The transition is no problem for Lockwood, who handles tongue twisters and dialogue effortlessly, as the song “Moses Supposes” points out. But Lina, whose voice is a cross between Betty Boop and a chainsaw, doesn’t fare so well.

Then Don meets Kathy Selden (Alex Burchfield), a Broadway star wannabe, and falls in love — and that’s before he even knows she can sing and dance with the best of them. The situation doesn’t please Lina, who has a fantasy crush on Don — although there’s never been anything between them.

After Lina gets Kathy fired from her “day job” jumping out of cakes, she disappears and Don’s frantic to find her.

Meanwhile, movie mogul R.F. Simpson (Bob Laing) decides that The Jazz Singer wasn’t a fluke after all and decided to make his own talking pictures featuring his biggest stars – Don and Lina.

Things don’t go well, because of Lina’s vocal challenges, but then Don finds Kathy and Don’s best friend, Cosmo Brown (Nate Simson), gets the bright idea of using Kathy’s voice and singing in place of Lina’s.

The talking movie comes out great, but Lina finds out about the voice switch and tries to force Kathy to become her “voice” for the remainder of her five-year contract.

Well, as things often did in those great MGM musicals, the ending is happy — for everyone but Lina, that is.

The young cast just a great job of recreating the humor and music of the original movie, with the principles handling their dancing and singing roles with zest and competence, under the music direction of Stoller and Tonia Gamble.

Other cast members include Rachael McCroskey, Taylor Grooms, Taylor Zsiros, Sarah Mengerink, AJ Thomas, Janie Trejo, Ciara Becker, Hunter Munroe, Matt Oechsle, Ashley Knittle, Thad Davis, Becca Johnson, Eric Speer, Josh Roberts, and Kellie Carnahan.

Added cast include Jennifer Carnahan and Katey Gamble as dancers and Ann-Sophie Warkentin, Haley Sperry, Peyton Closson, Alexa Freeland, Sierra Kesler, and Miranda Rickard as ensemble members.

The technical crew, under the direction of Hugh Saunier, did a wonderful job with the sets and props and, in probably the worst kept secret of the production, was even able to magic up real rain falling onstage during the title song, as a love-struck Don dances through the raindrops.

Also terrific is the 11-piece orchestra under the direction of Bob Sloan that includes Annette Hoverman on piano, woodwind players Patty Ruckman, Meg Beavers, John Stetler and Tonia Gamble, brass players Jacob Litwiller, Scott Turner and Tony Alessandrini, Rod Sroufe on string bass and Richard Sherrick and Ben Price on percussion.

The production is well-worth seeing and will continue through Saturday in the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio, starting at 7 p.m. each night. Songs include the title song, “You Are My Lucky Star,” “Broadway Melody,” Lina’s show-stopper, “What’s Wrong with Me?” “You Were Meant for Me,” “You Stepped Out of a Dream” and “Make ‘Em Laugh.”