We sat down with Director Rich Tunley and talked all things Singin' In The Rain. Find out what he had to say!
Hi Rich, Wikipedia says that Singin' In The Rain is frequently referred to as the best film musical ever made. How many times have you watched the film and how has it informed the way you’ve approached the stage show?
I watched it lots growing up but only once last year when I knew I was directing it for Simply Theatre. The stage show follows the format of the film quite closely. When directing, I always try not to watch any version of the show as it informs too much & I like to create the show with the actors. That way it feels more like their show not a copy of the film.
I watched it lots growing up but only once last year when I knew I was directing it for Simply Theatre. The stage show follows the format of the film quite closely. When directing, I always try not to watch any version of the show as it informs too much & I like to create the show with the actors. That way it feels more like their show not a copy of the film.
What’s your favourite scene from the film, and is it also your favourite scene in the Simply Theatre production?
My favourite scene isn’t in the film. It’s at the end when the whole cast ‘sing in the rain’. I love that everyone is involved. The stage is packed, soaking wet & great fun! I get a thrill from watching how our wonderful cast is developing. They are amazing!
How similar is the play to the film?
Almost identical. The stage show adds a few more musical numbers but it is very faithful to the original.
Do you think that cast members feel a lot of pressure playing roles that were originated by icons Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds - and if so, how do they deal with this?
Not at all. Our lead actors are very capable & are very talented. Different actors bring their own quality to a role. That’s what I’m encouraging our actors to do. They might be young but they’re terrific.
What can we expect from the show?
Fun, song, dance & a great night out. It’s such a joy of a show to watch. We won’t disappoint!
We’re hoping for"rain" onstage – how challenging are technical features like that to bring to life?
Oh I’m sure we will see the odd raindrop or two! The technical challenges are vast. Electrics & water don’t mix well so the set has a built in system that allows the rain to be re-cycled so it can rain for as long as we need it to!
What’s been your favourite moment from rehearsals so far?
It has to be the ‘Singing in Rain’ finale I mentioned earlier. The cast is working so hard & watching them come to grips with dancing, singing, choreography & open umbrellas was a joy! We laughed lots!
I’m also enjoying working with the principals who are learning to tap!! Leo & Jeremy who play DON & COSMO throw themselves into every rehearsal with gusto. We have just finished their ‘Fit As A Fiddle’ number and Leo has learnt to tap from scratch. By the end of the rehearsal our feet were killing us but the boys are pretty amazing already! It’s fun packing my tap shoes in my flight bag every week!
Singing In The Rain takes place at The Casino Theatre Geneva April 14-22 April. Book your tickets
here
