Singin’ In The Rain

Not Gene Kelly

Almost a year ago I wrote about how I was supposed to have seen this on stage but it got cancelled, and so I watched the film instead.

Well, the stage show was rescheduled, that rescheduled performance was – mirabile dictu! – not cancelled (another show I’ve got tickets for at Sadler’s Wells has been re-scheduled twice now), and I saw it on Saturday. The singing and dancing was not quite up to the standard of the original – how could it be? Gene Kelly has been busy with another engagement for over 20 years, and of course in a live show everything has to be done in one take so of necessity some of the more spectacular numbers have to be tamed down a bit. But even so, it was fun. The title piece was spectacular.

It’s on for a few more weeks at Sadler’s Wells and tickets are still available. I recommend avoiding the front few rows in the stalls unless you want a good soaking.

Enigma Variations

This evening I watched the Royal Opera House’s 2019 production of the Enigma Variations. I don’t think I’ll ever listen to it the same again.

There’s nothing terribly flashy about it, it’s just a joyful portrait of the characters Elgar portrayed in his music. And it cost only £3. It’s available to stream for the next few weeks and I recommend it.