Josh Finch, left, is Don Lockwood, and Ally Holloway is Lina Lamont in a scene from the ‘Dueling Cavalier,’ the movie that is being filmed in the story of Christian Youth Theatre Baton Rouge’s production of ‘Singin’ in the Rain.’
PROVIDED PHOTO BY FIRECASTLE MEDIA LLC
The year is 1927, and talkies are replacing silent films in the movie theaters.
Don Lockwood’s singing voice is as eloquent as his talking voice, maybe more so.
But his glamorous leading lady, Lina Lamont, has a problem. Her voice is grating, her words pinched. She sounds like a Brooklyn telephone operator when she speaks, which makes it even funnier when she’s asked to say the line, “I can’t stand him.”
Or, in her heavy accent, “I cayent stayend ’em.”
CYT’s ‘Singin’ in the Rain’
7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday
LSU’s Shaver Theatre, Music & Dramatic Arts Building, Dalrymple Drive
$19 for children age 12 and younger; $22 for adults; all tickets $25 at the door
Fans of “Singin’ in the Rain” are already laughing at this reference. As for those who aren’t familiar with the story, Christian Youth Theatre Baton Rouge plans to change that.
Lina’s line is probably the movie’s most memorable one, and it’ll definitely be part of the dialogue when CYT of Baton Rouge continues its Community Theatre run of “Singin’ in the Rain” in LSU’s Shaver Theatre.
Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.
And for those curious about rainfall for the “Singin’ in the Rain” number, well, the rain will be digitally produced in this show.
“We were going to use real water, and we designed it where the rain would be contained within our sets, but LSU was concerned about it,” director Jeff Elliott said. “So, the rain will be digital on a backdrop, but we’ll still have the iconic scene where Don hops up on the light post with the umbrella.”
Ally Holloway plays Lina Lamont in CYT Baton Rouge Community Theatre’s production of ‘Singin’ in the Rain.’
PROVIDED PHOTO BY FIRECASTLE MEDIA LLC
Based on 1952 film
The stage production of “Singin’ in the Rain” is based on the 1952 film starring Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood and Debbie Reynolds as his friend-turned-love-interest Kathy Seldon.
The story opens in 1920s Hollywood, where Don and Lina are the king and queen of silent films. They also pose as a romantic couple off-screen to stay in favor with fans and boost ticket sales.
But talkies are beginning to overtake the industry. Suddenly acting requires more than facial expressions and body language. Actors have to add voices to their performances, and the studio wants to do just that with the latest Lockwood-Lamont movie, “The Dueling Cavalier.”
The only problem is Lina doesn’t have the voice for it, so she’s given elocution lessons, which she either doesn’t or refuses to comprehend. Or both.
This is where she blurts out her famous line. It’s also when Don begins falling for Kathy, then sings in the rain about his newfound love.
Emphasis on authenticity
“Our theme is authenticity,” Elliott said. “It’s what we are really focusing on as the theme of this show. You’ve got Don, who’s willing to lie about his backstory so that the audience loves him, and you’ve got Kathy, who’s clambering for the New York stage. Both of them find that it’s not who you are and what you do, but what they find that’s truly important. Yeah. And they find their authenticity when they find each other.”
Elliott is directing a cast of 35 adults, many of whom are graduates of the CYT program. Josh Finch is spotlighted in the lead role of Don, Chelsea Gidden is Kathy, Matthew Lass is Don’s sidekick Cosmo and Ally Holloway will command the stage as Lina.
“The three productions during the school year are Christian Youth Theatre productions, but the summer show is always a Christian Community Theatre production, where adults get to participate,” Elliott said. “It’s a great group. One of the things I’ve told this cast is if you take away the costumes, the sets and the props, they would still bring an amazing show.”