REVIEW: Singin' in the Rain
This American classic seemed to please the opening night crowd.
The Carnegie opened its last 2022-2023 show of the season last night with an ambitious production of “Singin’ in the Rain.” The crowd seemed to enjoy the show, especially the big dance numbers, granting the production the now-standard standing ovation. If you are a fan of classic musicals or this particular movie, you should get tickets to see it.
One of my favorite parts of my evenings at The Carnegie is the pre-show dinner. This time my friend and I ate at Libby’s Southern Comfort, just a few blocks from the theatre. I had the burger, with some white cheddar mac and cheese. Delicious! For dessert, I had the honey pie, advertised as a mix between creme brulee and cheesecake. I loved it. Reservations are strongly encouraged.
Another amazing part of The Carnegie experience is the art upstairs in the gallery. Make sure if you attend a show, you arrive early enough to tour the building and see all that the facility has to offer.
Some thoughts:
Kudos to Delaney Benson for her professionalism and high-quality performance as Kathy Seldon. It’s the best thing about the production.
I used to think that the sound issues at The Carnegie were just part of the experience, but the summer rep series gave me hope. Unfortunately, this show didn’t rise to that same standard audio-wise.
I liked Allison Jones's costume design a lot.
I’ve come to the conclusion after over ten years of intent theatre-going that one of the keys to directing a successful musical is keeping the action moving and avoiding slugging scene transitions. Crackling energy is crucial.
It’s fun to see a youth and teen ensemble used so well, even in a more stripped-down, minimalistic approach to the show.
Shows built around special effects are tough, especially when the said effect doesn’t seem to work.
Tyler Gabbard’s set design made great use of the space, as usual. He’s got a big job ahead of him as the new Theatre Director, but if he approaches this job with the same competency he shows with set design, we’ll all benefit greatly.
Singin in the Rain runs through February 12th at The Carnegie in Covington, KY. Tickets and more information can be found here.