Hello, Ottawa! I had the pleasure of seeing Orpheus Musical Theatre’s latest show, Singin’ in the Rain. Many know this classical musical from the 1950’s film directed and starring Gene Kelly. Although this film has the same story as the musical, Orpheus presents a more modern spin on the classic.
The Venue
Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe (formerly known as Centrepointe Theatres) is located in Ottawa’s west end. This beautiful building doubles as a City of Ottawa Building and a home for the arts. With two stages, one studio and the main theatre, this building provides incredible seating and audio. Located in the lobby, you can find a beautiful bar with excellent staff. This theatre, time and time again proves its place within Ottawa’s arts scene with its amazing audio, acoustics, and overall space. A special shoutout is always needed for how accommodating and kind all of the staff of Meridian Theatres are!
Preshow Announcements
As I saw the opening night of Singin’ in the Rain, I would like to extend the preshow announcements for those who missed them. J.T. Morris, most known for his involvement throughout Orpheus or as Orpheus’s Managing Director, took a few minutes to announce that this was the last show before Orpheus’s 120th season! This coming season is filled with extremely exciting shows (one even being Les Mis). J.T. let us know that this season’s subscription packages can now be purchased! I want to extend my congratulations to this amazing company, fully run by volunteers! Furthermore, J.T. announced some amazing news that the summer camp run by Orpheus is now completely free! You heard that right! They are completely free because of the incredible generosity of their donors!
The Show
This show, commonly known by the yellow umbrella, takes place during the culture shift from silent films to those with sound. The formerly well-known stars now have to figure out how they can act when their main actress can’t sing or, frankly, even speak! Lina Lamont sounds like if Mickey Mouse had a baby with squeaky floorboards! This is when our leading man, Don Lockwood, decides to have Kathy Selden take over Lamont’s singing and speaking role in the film! From Lamont’s love for Lockwood to Lamont’s hatred for Selden, this show will keep you on your toes but ensure you stay quiet on set!
The Production Team
This show was directed by the wonderful Kodi Cannon. Many know Mr. Cannon as Harold Hill from The Music Man with Orpheus. This performance was taken with a modern twist, as if we, the audience, were in the show. Mr. Cannon envisioned this show as an experience with the bonus of singing. This was wonderfully demonstrated with the sets and costumes that Alain Richer and Hannah Gorham-Smith came out with. Mr. Richer not only had gorgeous sets, but also had sprinklers on stage! This was the first non-Broadway performance I have seen with water coming from the set! This was so cool! Furthermore, Ms. Gorham-Smith was able to take us into the 1920’s era with beautiful costumes. My personal favourite was a purple number worn by Tara Marcoux-Tynski at the beginning of the show. I also want to express how incredible the band was. Wendy Berkelaar was the Music Director, and is one of the most talented people I have ever met. Have you ever seen a whole score which was handwritten in the 50s? The amount of talent it takes to not only read but also perform this is unreal. Wendy truly is a rockstar! The final person I want to mention is Laura Merani. This incredible choreographer not only works with Orpheus but also does this as her full-time job! Her performances always have the best dance numbers within them!
Stand-Out Performances
There were so many performers who, as always, shone and proved why they were cast in this show. With such an amazing production, it was very difficult to narrow down, but here are some deserving mentions (In no particular order)
Brendan Finnerty (Don Lockwood): I have lost count of how many performances I have seen Mr. Finnerty in, and once again, he knocked it out of the park. His acting, along with his talent in dancing, put Don Lockwood in a captivating light. Not only was his voice super smooth, he was also able to belt out some crazy notes after some equally crazy dance breaks. I need to also highlight his talent in tap! He is an incredible dancer, showcased especially in songs like Moses Supposes and Singin’ in the Rain. Mr. Finnerty once again proved that he fits any role and makes it his own!
Rachel G. MacPhee (Kathy Selden): This was the first (but hopefully will not be the last) time I have seen Ms. MacPhee in! She is an incredible performer with amazing comedic timing and an exceptional voice. She stole every scene she was in! I cannot wait for her future productions!
Mercedes Rivoire (Cosmo Brown): I absolutely adored seeing a woman in a role mainly played by men! Ms. Rivoire is such a talented dancer and is one of the funniest women I have ever seen on stage!
Tara Marcoux-Tynski (Vocal Coach): Ms. Marcoux-Tynski is another of the performers I have seen countless times on stage! She is such an incredible performer who always captivates audiences when on stage! This was highlighted in this show with her tongue twisters! Bravo, Ms. Marcoux-Tynski!
Sam Prowse (Tenor): In my notes, I wrote superstar because that truly is Mr. Prowse. His solo in Beautiful Girl stole the entire show. His voice is so breathtaking that there were gasps within the audience. Mr. Prowse is from Vancouver, and this is his first show with Orpheus, and hopefully not his last!
Fionn Piper (Broadway Top Soloist): The character title explains everything that needs to be said about Mr. Piper. He is such an incredible dancer and stole the stage during the Broadway Melody!
Rory Piper (Chorus Girl): Every single time Ms. Piper went on stage, my eyes were on her! She is such an outstanding performer, and I cannot wait to see what she does next!
Overall, this was definitely in the running for one of the best shows I have ever seen from Orpheus! The entire cast was fabulous, and the crew were impeccable! The artistic design of this show is truly unmatched! I would absolutely grab tickets before they all go because it is a must-see!
The show runs from May 29th to June 7th, and tickets are selling quickly, so grab them before they’re all gone! Full details and schedule are available on my events calendar.
