REVIEW: Singin' in the Rain - 24 Hour Musical Project

Singin’ in the Rain – 24 Hour Musical Project

Director: Tim Wynn

Music Director: Jacob Cavanough

Choreographer: Grace Clarke

Plus an enormous creative team, support team, and 20-piece orchestra

"And were there more than 24 hours a day, they’d be spent in sweet content dreamin’ away"

It’s my favourite time of year! Walking into a theatre knowing that what you are about to see was put together in just 24 hours. And honestly… Singin’ in the Rain might just be the perfect storm for it. It’s one of my all-time favourite musicals too. Great choice, gang!

For those unfamiliar, the 24 Hour Musical Project is exactly what it sounds like. A cast is assembled without knowing the show, a shortlist is teased, and then once the title is revealed, the clock starts. Twenty-four hours later, curtain up. No safety net, no time to overthink, just pure adrenaline and instinct!

After a start that was definitely not delayed by 30 minutes… (they plan everything except the parking situation at Stuartholme), the energy in the theatre was lifted. And that theatre was full of community members, friends, and fellow artists, all ready to witness whatever chaos and brilliance was about to unfold. The 1920s-inspired wigs and costumes did a lot of heavy lifting in establishing the world quickly, leaning into classic Hollywood glamour with just enough theatrical flair.

You could sense the insomnia in the room. There’s a special giddy delirium that hits when you've been awake for far too long, especially when that time is spent learning and memorising non-stop information. Every joke feels ten times funnier, every mishap is a slapstick masterpiece, and every success is like a whole group triumph. Also, immediate shoutout to the 20-piece orchestra who were operating on a completely different level. They heroically and impressively delivered a worthy performance based on mostly sight-reading.

One standout for me was Benjamin Cole in the role of Cosmo Brown. His comedic delivery was divine, and his energy seemed somehow limitless. Make ‘Em Laugh had me actually laughing out loud, particularly due to the clever addition of chaotic filmed segments. Ben managed to keep it all together superbly and his voice remained remarkably strong throughout.

Zach Price as Don Lockwood leaned beautifully into the old Hollywood leading man style, maintaining charm and composure while not-so-subtly eyeing the prompter like a pro. Bec Swain brought a softness and sincerity to Kathy Selden, with You Are My Lucky Star offering a genuinely lovely vocal moment amidst the drama. Her adorably delirious giggles only added to the charm.

Ellen Axford was a whirlwind force in the role of Lina Lamont. Lack of sleep seemed like the secret weapon to crank up the character's crazy essence. Her melodramatic solo What’s Wrong With Me and the Duelling Cavalier film sequence were comedic high points.

David Goodwin as Dexter leaned right into the madness of being a director, serving up a performance that was knowingly unhinged and utterly committed. Carly Quinn as Dora Bailey delivered a shimmering performance with strong character flair, while Kyle Armstrong gave us a smooth crooner moment in Beautiful Girls, complete with a powder blue tux and dancers draped in flowing silks.

Across the ensemble, the commitment to bold, heightened character choices was a joy to watch. No one played it safe, and that’s exactly what this format thrives on. And truly, the entire cast are stellar stars in our community, each finding their moment to shine within the madness.

Also worth noting, articulation and accents across the cast were surprisingly strong considering the circumstances. But by Act 2, things became delightfully loopy. I am fairly certain some performers were seeing double by the end. There were moments where I genuinely wondered if the cast knew what they were saying anymore. Prompter delays became punchlines. Timing mishaps between band and actor became comedy beats. But the cast supported each other beautifully, never breaking character (much), no matter what went wrong.

More memorable moments:

• All I Do Is Dream of You had excellently tight choreography and infectious energy. The fact that any choreography existed at all, let alone moments of cohesion, is honestly remarkable in this format.

• Moses Supposes (the tongue-twister nightmare) was attempted with full tap choreography… bravo Zach and Ben!

• Broadway Melody showcased the orchestra at their absolute best, with the cast giving it everything they had left in the tank.

• The filmed sequences, very likely shot in the early hours of the morning, added an extra layer of humour

• The real pie-in-the-face moment

• A couple of early onstage falls in the first 10 minutes (hopefully everyone was okay!)

• The accidental house lights moment… whoops!

• And a special mention to Andrew CP’s demonstration of the “talking picture"

This kind of performance requires a very specific skill set. Strong memory, excellent sight-reading, quick instincts, and the ability to just go with it when things inevitably go off track. And this cast rose to that challenge with heart, humour, and an incredible sense of community. The 24 Hour Musical Project is a reminder of just how much talent exists within our local community, and how powerful it is when those artists are given the space to simply create together. The audience was rapturous throughout, all sharing in the same unpredictable experience.

If you ever get the chance to see one of these shows, take it. No two are ever the same of course. And sitting in that audience, surrounded by a room full of people cheering them on, it was very clear… this was one of those “you had to be there” nights. And I’m very glad I was!