Singin in The Rain - Royal Exchange Theatre

IF reincarnation actually existed, there would, for me, be a clamour to return as a pair of Louis Gaunt’s tap shoes as he treats festive audiences to a dancing masterclass and I urge people not to miss his amazing feat in this perfect production of Singin in Thee Rain.

Maybe I should use the phrase ‘amazing feet’ instead because simply watching him dance the film star Don Lockwood was absolutely absolutely breath taking, brilliant, awe inspiring, the list could easily go on and on.

Even when Gaunt appears clutching a brolly to sing the shoe’s iconic title song the audience couldn’t resist showing an audible sense of appreciation which was nothing compared to the applause and whoops of delight that greeted the end of it.

We’re in the 19200s when the stars of Hollywood still had a certain mystique and Lockwood harbours a desire to turn his latest film into a musical.

His shrill and incurably entitled co-star Lina Lamont, played by a hilarious Laura Baldwin, a diva with a deep seated love for Lockwood, is reluctance to accept this shift in genre as well as she refuses to accept who she initially sees as the other woman in his life, Kathy Seiden, played so well here by Carly Mercedes Dyer..

It would also be impossible not to warm to Danny Collins as Don’s friend and confidante, Cosmo Brown.

Initially I wondered how this musical would work on the RET’s compact little stage but my misgivings lasted a mere matter of moments when I attended on press night.

For me, this is the musical of the year and what a better city to stage a show with such a title, We’ve been known to have a shower or two here in Manchester.

You simply must not miss this.

Until January 25. Tickets are available from 0161 833 9833 and you may also book online at www.royalexchange.co.uk.

Star rating - *****

Photo by Johan Persson.