Focus Birmingham

By Vidar Hjardeng

Following their success with ‘42nd Street’, Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘South Pacific’ the same producers are currently staging ‘Singing in the Rain’. This dazzling musical features some of the best loved comedy routines, dance numbers and popular songs of all time, including You were Meant for Me, Moses Supposes and of course the eponymous, Singing in the Rain.

Award-winning Broadway star, Tim Flavin, played Don Lockwood (the part immortalised by Gene Kelly), and he and the cast certainly provided great entertainment for us all when I went to see the audio described performance at the Wolverhampton Grand on the evening of 16 September.

The Grand’s resident describer, Anne Hornsby, was on hand to welcome visually impaired patrons and their companions, along with Access and Marketing Officer, Janine Graeme. On this occasion there were a number of people who seemed to be having their first audio described theatre experience, and never having been on a touch tour before, these VIPs were a little dubious about going on stage. However, not surprisingly Anne and Janine soon won them over, and talking to one or 2 of them back in the bar afterwards, it was apparent that they were very glad that they had in fact overcome their initial reservations. Like me, they’d appreciated Anne’s description of the set and some of the props and hopefully, as I did, they will have also enjoyed Anne’s ‘live’ commentary. In fact it was due to Anne’s comprehensive description that I, for one, was able to appreciate the many comic slapstick routines during the show – proving once again, just what a consummate professional Anne is - her all important timing was absolutely spot-on and we could all get the most out of those humorous moments. Like many in the audience my friends and I came out with a spring in our step, humming the iconic title tune – a thoroughly enjoyable production!

The next audio described show at the Grand will be the comedy written by Victoria Wood, Dinner Ladies at 2.30pm Saturday 3 October, and information on concessionary tickets, the touch tour and how to book headsets can be obtained from the box office on 01902 429212.