Residents@JV

Singin' in the Rain

As the Jacob’s Village bunch of Wanda, Donna Kay, Debbie, Mike, Michael, Scott, Home Coordinators Angel and Barry continue their journey through the months of 2007, an expectation of excitement, entertainment and sometimes adventure comes from Ann Coy time. The activity for the month of March was no different and was appropriate for this time of year. Diane Anderson, a good friend of Ann’s and also a ‘Friend of Jacob’s Village’ (FOJV), donated tickets to the residents for North High School’s Spring Musical ‘Singin’ in the Rain’. Diane’s son Joe was a dancer and an extra in this performance. Diane was also responsible for a few of the entertainers for Ann’s ‘Summer Variety Show’ under the Jacob’s Village carport August 29, 2006. Her son Joe and older son Pete, U.E. student and musician who has blessed Jacob’s Village on more than one occasion, his friend Shawna, Ann’s granddaughters Amy & Lindsey put on an outstanding ‘Summer Variety Show’. The residents enjoy the times when Diane Anderson contributes her offerings. The musical was showing March 15-18 and the tickets were for the Sunday Matinee finale. Evansville North High School’s Drama Department presented ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ in their 1,100 seat auditorium. Regarded by many as the best musical of all time, this musical adaptation was taken from the 1952 movie that starred Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Conner. The storyline to ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ is set in 1929 as a silent film producing company and cast were making a difficult transition into the new talking genre. The wild popularity of the ‘The Jazz Singer’, starring Al Jolson, MGM’s first all talking musical film in 1929 was the talk of the town. It had all the major studios scrambling to change silent movies to ‘talkies’ while a legendary silent screen couple were just finishing up with their latest film ‘The Duelling Cavalier’. The sexy, leading lady had a shrill and irritating voice that audiences never heard and it left the previewing audience of their new film in stitches roaring with laughter. The only way they thought could save the film from being a disaster was to change the name into a musically titled show such as ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and secretly dub in the singing and use a voice over for the star’s lines. The devious plan would have been successful if not for a demanded live performance at the premiere. There was a curtain malfunction revealing the star was lip-synching the words while the actual singer was behind the curtain. All the characters in this hilarious, mad-cap romp worked it all out with the leading man running off with the new found star. The entire cast returned on stage for an encore of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’. Compliments to the North High School’s Drama Department for an excellent reproduction in the performance, and the stage crew for providing real water for the rain…the rain in the play stayed mainly on the stage. Good seats and a good time were had by all and Jacob’s Village sends a big heart thank you to Ann Coy and Diane Anderson for arranging for them to see one of the best musicals of all time.

posted by J V Resident Blog @ 9:46 AM