‘Singin’ in the Rain’ making splash through June 7 at Spreckels Theatre

San Diego Musical Theatre’s version of “Singin’ in the Rain” has delightfully splashed onto the Spreckels stage.

The musical, which closely resembles the 1952 movie it is based on, can be seen through June 7. It is impressive, especially its special effects that include having real water pour onto the stage at the end of Act I as Brandon Davidson (playing Don Lockwood) sings and dances to the title song amid raindrops.

Anyone familiar with the movie version will notice that a majority of the stage show replicates it almost word for word. SDMT did a good job combining filmed footage with live acting to recreate Hollywood’s transition from silent films to talkies. No detail is overlooked, including having slightly imperfect film quality to mimic the look of black and white films of the late 1920s.

While it is nice for the movie’s fans to see it closely replicated on the stage, that is also a drawback. Nothing can be done about the plot and dialogue being so similar; however, it would have been nice if the choreography by Jill Gorrie was not so heavily influenced by the movie as well. Especially during “Make ‘Em Laugh,” “Moses Supposes,” “Good Morning” and “Singin’ in the Rain,” the predictability of key choreographic elements was apparent and distracting. Instead of being in the moment during those numbers, this reviewer started figuring out what choreographic elements were coming next with pretty good accuracy.

“Singin’ in the Rain” is about a fictional “it” couple of the silent screen era — leading man Don Lockwood and his leading lady, Lina Lamont (played by Andi Davis). Hollywood gossip has them linked together off screen, but that is just a publicity stunt. Lina would love to have a real romance with Don, but he barely tolerates her. One evening, he encounters young, aspiring actress Kathy Selden (Brittany Rose Hammond). Don flirts with her, but Kathy hurts his ego by saying she does not think much of his acting.

Unfortunately for Kathy, they meet again later that evening when she is among a group of dancers performing at a party Don attends. Their second encounter ends with Kathy lobbing a cake at Don’s face, but missing and accidentally hitting Lina. A vengeful Lina gets Kathy fired — not only due to the cake incident, but because she realizes Don is interested in Kathy.

As Don and Lina begin their next movie, “The Jazz Singer” premieres in 1927 and what many think is a passing fad — talking movies — turns out to be a smashing success that revolutionizes the film industry. As a result, their new movie has to be turned into a talkie. However, Lina has a horrible, screechy voice and their movie’s early preview is a disaster.

Don, his longtime sidekick Cosmo Brown (Cameron Lewis), and Kathy (now Don’s girlfriend) come up with a solution — turn the film into a musical and have Kathy’s voice dubbed in to replace Lina’s (hopefully without Lina finding out). Unfortunately, she discovers the truth and it is apparent Lina is not as dumb as she always appears to be when she devises a way to secure her career while torpedoing Kathy’s before it begins.

Davidson and Hammond are enjoyable as the leads, but it is Lewis and Davis that steal the show. Lewis’ characterization of Cosmo is spot on as the musician who provides much of the comic relief. He successfully walks the fine line between having Cosmo be a bit goofy without becoming ridiculous. Lewis does much with facial expressions that project well into the audience and his rendition of “Make ‘Em Laugh” is delightful.

Davis has the most difficult role since she must constantly maintain a nasal screech while talking and singing. She pulls it off impeccably, including during her comedic solo “What’s Wrong With Me?” — a number not part of the 1985 Broadway debut, but added by the 2012 revival. To put it simply, Davis is very good at being very bad.

“Singin’ in the Rain” can be seen at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays through June 7 at the Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway in downtown San Diego. Tickets are $35 to $65, with discounts for youths (16 and under), seniors, students and groups available. Purchase at sdmt.org or 858-560-5740.