Glamorizing the Hollywood shift from silent to speaking movies, this slaphappy musical includes everything from a dancing Mona Lisa and a girl popping out of a cake to a star getting hit in the kisser with a whipped cream pie. Dashing heroes, gorgeous dancing girls, silent films and talking films fill the Goodspeed stage with song, dance and hilarious comedy. David Elder as the handsome movie star Don Lockwood, Scott Barnhardt as Cosmo Brown, and Sarah Jane Everman as Kathy Selden make the most of each spotlight number.

Elder may not be Gene Kelly, but he's a veritable dance sensation in his own right. He starred on Broadway in "42nd Street," won the Outer Critics Award, and was nominated for the Astaire Award. Barnhardt appeared on Broadway in "Deaf West," Roundabout's revival of "Big River," for which the cast received the 2004 Tony.

Now playing Don Lockwood's comic sidekick, he combines comedy and dance for an unforgettable performance. He dances up a wall without thinking twice about it. Everman appeared on Broadway in "Wicked" and appeared in the Broadway revival of "The Apple Tree.

" She seems a bit too mature and detached for her co-stars and doesn't click romantically with her co-star in this production, but her vocals work just fine. It's a plus that Ray Roderick directs this stage production true to the film version, which recently was named "The Greatest Movie Musical of All Time." There's no disappointment.

If anything, there's a bonus. Goodspeed used the original Gene Kelly choreography and added a smart introduction that included red carpet interviews colorfully choreographed by Rick Conant. Yes, of course there is the mandatory "Singin' in the Rain" number, which makes a big splash, but there's so much more to this production.

Talent parades across the stage non-stop. Even Stacey Logan, as the squeaky voiced Lina Lamont, lays it on just thick enough to tickle our fancy. Angela Wendt's costumes are ringers.

From signature yellow slickers to gorgeous 1920s gowns, she nails the era. Even Michael Price, executive producer, makes an appearance in this show. He is in the film demonstrating the use of talkies.

It's really quite a funny touch. Anyone who knows Price laughs out loud as soon as he appears on the screen; it's a clever surprise. However, since most of the audience doesn't recognize this prominent director, many sit and wonder what is so funny.

MGM released "Singin' in the Rain" in 1952. The title song, written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, actually was first used in another movie, "Hollywood Revue of 1929." Even in that film, the song was treated with rain and dancers in slickers.

With the exception of two new songs, Freed used a lot of the songs he and Brown created for other shows in "Singin' in the Rain." In addition to the title song, the many big numbers include "I Dream of You," "You Are My Lucky Star," "You Were Meant for Me" and "Good Mornin'." All of them satisfy to the fullest.

With a first-rate ensemble and supporting cast, this is a big winner for Goodspeed Opera House. It has been held over until July 6. Box office is (860) 873-8668.

Joanne Greco Rochman is a member of The American Theatre Critics Association and a founding member of The Connecticut Critics Circle. She welcomes comments at Jrochman@ earthlink.net.