THOSE of us brought up on a diet of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers’ movies are in our element. Arguably the best film musical ever made, the 1952 classic became this stage show in 1983, by the original screenplay creators Betty Comden and Adolph Green… and at the London Palladium, instead of Broadway.

Since then, the show has been regularly revived and features the sight of water falling on stage in the most realistic recreation of Kelly’s famous, soggily-iconic song and dance routine.

US-born, UK-residing Tim Flavin takes on the role of movie star Don Lockwood, who is wrestling with the 1927 arrival of the Jazz Singer, putting an end to his silent film career, while trying to win the heart of unknown, but talented performer Kathy Selden (Jessica Punch).

Both are better in the singing and acting stakes than in the dance routines, but they are certainly the best headliners we’ll get on tour in the North- East this year.

Graeme Henderson is not only the choreographer but he also has the unenviable task of performing the Cosmo Brown role, which is so closely identified in the movie with Donald O’Connor.

Even if Henderson does struggle to Make ‘Em Laugh, he’s another sterling performer.

But the show is stolen by Amy Griffiths, as the idiotic ultimate blonde, Lina Lamont, Lockwood’s screeching costar, who can’t be anything but silent on screen.

The inclusion of Lina’s outraged song, What’s Wrong With Me?, is an unexpected delight, while the big cast smoothly goes through the gears to deliver the showstoppers, such as Fit As A Fiddle, Beautiful Girl, Lucky Star, Moses Supposes, Good Morning and Would You? before another splash of Singin’ In The Rain.

Anyone without a smile on their face, all over the place, must be a Middlesbrough supporter.