Going to see Singin’ in the Rain at the Wycombe Swan tonight?  Check out Sandra Carter’s review before you go.

Wycombe’s got talent? – Absolutely. Take 200 youngsters from Wycombe and surrounding area, mix them with some professional theatre types for just two weeks, put on a show – and wow a packed Swan theatre with their sheer exuberance.

 Each year the Wycombe Swan Summer Youth Project rises to the challenge of getting young people aged from nine to 21 to create something hugely impressive in two weeks of their long holiday. This weekend Singin’ in the Rain proves just what can be achieved.

 The four lead characters are quite superb, singing, acting, tap-dancing, word perfect, never a choreographed move out of synch. Jonah Halton as heartthrob silent movie star Don Lockwood and Tom Mole as his mate Cosmo Brown are excellent. Both have just left the Royal Grammar School, with A level results causing a brief distraction during rehearsals.

 Olivia Kinghorn takes on the challenging role of petulant screen goddess Lina Lamont, bringing a lovely light touch to proceedings. Kathy Seldon plays everyone’s dream sweetheart Nicole, singing, dancing and acting simply beautifully.

 And the other 196 in the cast? This might sounds hyperbolic, but there is nothing to criticise, everything to applaud, from the minor roles to the walk-on parts to the dance routines to the marvellous finale ensemble rendition of Singin’ in the Rain.

 Ah yes, that song. I must admit I was waiting for it. I must have seen Gene Kelly on film at some point, but in my memory it’s always Morecambe and Wise giving their spoof version in repeats of old TV Christmas shows.

 The iconic song is given the traditional treatment, and Jonah sings it beautifully. The stage set is smart (as it is throughout), with sheets of rain falling on him and a strip of pavement, then draining away so the rest of the stage doesn’t get wet. Clever.

 The backstage and technical teams do a great job, the silent movie and early talkies film slots are clever and perfectly presented, and the orchestra (mostly school or university students) are fantastic.

 So if you can – grab your umbrella and get to The Swan. The show continues this weekend: Saturday 2.30pm and 7pm, and Sunday 5.30pm.