Review: Orpheus Musical Theatre’s "Singin' in the Rain" at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe

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Heartily recommended, especially for fans of this or other classic Hollywood movie musicals.

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For its season finale, Orpheus Musical Theatre tackles the beloved classic, Singin’ in the Rain , under the direction of Kodi Cannon. At the risk of dating myself, I will admit to rewatching the film at least once a year, so it is safe to say that I am very familiar with the story. Orpheus has some pretty big tap dancing shoes to fill, as Gene Kelly , Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds are synonymous with the characters of Don Lockwood, Cosmo Brown, and Kathy Seldon. For those unfamiliar with the plot, Singin’ in the Rain takes place at the time when silent films are giving way to “talkies”. Leading man, Don Lockwood (Brendan Finnerty), and his beautiful co-star, Lena Lamont’s (Sarah Cousineau), newest film, The Duelling Cavalier , is at risk of being shut down because converting the film to a talking picture is not as simple as one might think. You see, as gorgeous as she is, Lamont’s voice could curdle milk. Lockwood’s best friend, Cosmo Brown (Mercedes Rivoire, in a gender-swapped role) comes up with a brilliant idea that, with Kathy Seldon’s (Rachel G. MacPhee) help, just might save the film from financial ruin and cement Don’s star power.

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The show’s set, designed by Alain Richer, contains key pieces from the film, like the sofa from “Good Morning” and the streetlamp from the title song, while scaling it down enough to be easily moveable. There’s a fully functional sign prop (design by Monique Ecroyd) that lights up to signal when filming is underway, which is a really neat feature. However, perhaps because of its novelty, it ends up being overused; it is frequently switched on during moments when either no filming is happening within the story, or there is filming when it shouldn’t logically occur. This becomes especially jarring during the iconic “Singin’ in the Rain” number, which is meant to feel like a spontaneous, joyful off-camera moment. Jaime McCarthy’s projections are well designed, ranging from the intimate, smaller-scale demonstration of a talking picture to the expansive full movie theatre scene. Costume design by Hannah Gorham -Smith is on point, with the period pieces being exceptionally striking.

Also of note is the impressive choreography by Laura Merani and tight ensemble performances that go a long way to making the show feel polished, which is no small feat with nineteen ensemble members. The cast delivers strong performances throughout the show, each convincingly channelling their film counterparts. Lina Lamont is a challenging role, but Cousineau rises mightily to the occasion. Finnerty and MacPhee convincingly capture the tender, almost shy romance between Don and Kathy, and Rivoire is equally compelling as the affable Cosmo Brown. Finally, Wayne McNamara perfectly embodies R.F. Simpson, the gruff MGM studio boss.

Despite excellent music direction from Wendy Berkelaar, I was slightly underwhelmed by “Make ’Em Laugh,” as it lacks some of the exaggerated slapstick that brings the lyrics fully to life; however, this may be due to budget constraints (and, perhaps, a few liability concerns!). There was also a moment of unintended comedy during the intro to “You Were Meant for Me”, when MacPhee was hilariously engulfed in a dense, choking fog instead of a “mist from distant mountains”. That said, other numbers such as “Good Morning”, “Singin’ in the Rain”, and “Moses Supposes” are beautifully executed, with any limitations disguised through clever design.

Overall, the show is a resounding success and I heartily recommend it, especially if you are a fan of this or other classic Hollywood movie musicals. Singin’ in the Rain is on stage at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe through June 7, 2026. Get tickets at the link below or click here for details of Orpheus’ 2026-2027 season.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/ottawa/article/Review-Orpheus-Musical-Theatres-Presentation-of-SINGIN-IN-THE-RAIN-20260604)._