After seeing Babylon last week, I found myself spending this Sunday rewatching Singin’ in the Rain. With both films featuring prominent discussions on the often-argued topic of film or theatre, asking the question of which requires more “talent” and which is “real acting”, I was left thinking about the Singin’ in the Rain theatre adaptation I attended in November 2022 in Toronto. One can argue that theatre requires perfection each night, for many performances each week, while film work only asks the actor for one perfect take, the single take that will be selected and viewed on every watch. On the other hand, film actors only have this singular performance that is included in the final cut to prove their abilities, while a theatre actor can put on a different performance each night with a blank slate, allowing them to try new approaches in front of new audiences until they find one that sticks. 

While I have no experience acting, as a viewer, it was fascinating to watch the theatre performance of Singin’ in the Rain, a film that largely discusses this discourse on film vs. theatre with a narrative that ends up favouring the former. I can’t speak on the assumed “talent” a film or theatre actor requires to succeed in their respective performances, but I feel I can speak on the experience as a viewer. The film Singin’ in the Rain is a classic. Featuring performances by iconic film stars including Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, any remake or adaptation would have a hard time living up to their performances. The film features multiple large dance numbers, with camera movement and framing that allows for the grandeur of each performance to be felt on even the smallest home screen. The very fact of the movie being a movie about the movies it what I think contributes so greatly to its ability to stand the test of time, and its popularity and acclaim that has persisted throughout the years.
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Before seeing the theatre production, I was skeptical. I wondered if the narrative would come across as strong in a live production compared to a film, and was curious about how the theatre performers would impact the viewing experience, as it is well known that theatre performance requires a different approach, with larger and different gestures, intonation, and facial expressions. I was pleased to find that I thoroughly enjoyed the theatre adaptation. The performers were able to capture the magic of the film, garnering laughs from the audience throughout, and very closely following the narrative and script of the original source material. The production even featured two rain sequences, with actors tap dancing on stage with umbrellas as rain fell from off stage above them. Audience members in the first few rows were even encouraged to wear rain ponchos they were provided. 

I think my main take away from getting to experience both the film and the theatre show of Singin’ in the Rain is this: it is not film OR theatre, but film AND theatre. Both require such different skills from its performers, with benefits and downfalls for both type of performance. Theatre shows allow viewers to experience performance live, in front of them, rolling out in real time in along with them. Anything can go wrong, but when it goes right, it is a magnificent immersive experience. Films allow this magic to be brought into the home, on the train, viewed with friends in a theatre, or alone in the dark. Since performances are carefully selected and edited, perfection in performances is expected, with anything less seen as a mistake. But once again, if this perfection is achieved, a film can change a life. For myself, both the film and the theatre show of Singin’ in the Rain live up to these factors. While I do in the end prefer the classic, iconic film, the theatre show brought the magic of the film directly to my hometown, to be experienced in a very different way, and I will cherish both pieces of art for a long, long time. 
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Moving forward, I am curious to see how films like Mean Girls: The Musical, and Wicked: The Musical do, being films based on theatre musicals rather than theatre musicals based on films. It still will be a different experience, but maybe that is the point, and the important take away is that the film adaptations allow for the greater accessibility of otherwise inaccessible theatre productions, and theatre productions allow for the immersive, live experience of people’s favourite films. ​