THE thought of walking to work on a gloomy Monday morning doesn't always give me a glorious feeling -- but yesterday I laughed at the clouds so dark up above, the sun was in my heart and I was ready for love. I was dancing down Mealhouse Lane because I was about to appear in the world's greatest musical, Singing in the Rain.

It opens in the Albert Halls for the first time tonight ( and will include a real downpour.

Theatre company Imagine! Productions has installed a 200 gallon power-shower above the stage.

Andy Vitolo, who plays the leading character Don Lockwood, invited me to do a real tap dance under a deluge so that I could make a big splash for the Bolton Evening News.

He said: "This is the first time anyone has ever been able to control the weather in Bolton, but it'll be pouring down indoors today for a change."

I thought I would look just as good as my hero Gene Kelly in the 1952 classic film version as I whirled my worries away in the wet.

But instead I slipped and slopped, rather like Eric Morecambe in his drippy TV comedy version with Ernie Wise.

Thankfully, Andy proved to be more of an expert at performing teeming tap-dance routines in the rain.

And after three months of rehearsals, the rest of the 21-strong cast would be right to expect the accolades to come flowing in from the audience.

"If our rain machine is a success we'll be coming back later in the year with another hit show, Annie," Andy said. "But we'll have another problem then because it snows in Annie. We might have to make a snow machine."

I'm quite happy to go Singing in the Rain again, but I'm sure that I'd be bawling if I had to belt out a tune in a blizzard.

Imagine! Productions' version of Singing in the Rain is at the Albert Halls until Saturday. Tickets cost £10 and £12 (concessions £9 and £11). For performance times and bookings call 01204-334400.