TERRE HAUTE —
Lucille Ball, one of the most successful and well-known actresses and comedians in American history, died in 1989, several years before the current students at Terre Haute North Vigo High School were even born.
But that’s not stopping them from paying tribute to the genius of Ball in a Black Box Theater production of “We Love Lucy,” written and directed by North Vigo junior Kasy Long.
“I love ‘I Love Lucy,’” Long said Monday evening just before the cast’s first dress rehearsal of the production, which will be staged in the North auditorium free-of-charge at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
“To be Lucille Ball, even for one night, is a dream come true,” Long said.
Long, who dyed her hair red for the role, is playing Ball. She and fellow North students will act out several well-known scenes from the iconic 1950s television comedy.
“It’s really a challenge,” said A.J. Contramaestre, a North sophomore, who plays Lucy’s husband, Cuban band leader Ricky Ricardo. “There’s going to be a bunch of people who have seen almost every episode of ‘I Love Lucy.’ They are going to be expecting me to be exactly as Desi Arnaz portrayed it.” That’s tough to live up to, he said.
Apart from Long, most of the cast was only slightly familiar with the old “Lucy” show before getting their parts. Since then, they have watched reruns of the show to get familiar with their characters, they said.
“I’ve never seen [‘I Love Lucy’] except for this year when I found out I was Ethel,” said Caitlin Spier, a freshman playing Lucy’s good friend, Ethel Mertz, in the production. “It’s just classic. Because it’s so iconic, it’s kind of a challenge to live up to that.”
The students will perform some of the best-known scenes from the Lucy show, including the famous scene in the candy factory where Ethel and Lucy have a tough time wrapping candy passing them on a conveyor belt. Another scene takes place inside the Brown Derby restaurant when Lucy, Ethel and Fred catch a glimpse of Hollywood star William Holden, who is eating at a neighboring table.
“When I got the role, I looked up who [Holden] was, because I didn’t know who he was,” said Will Rupert, who portrays Holden in the scene. Rupert was, however, familiar with the Lucy program, he said.
“I’ve watched a lot of reruns. My grandma always has it on in the background in her kitchen and I would watch it when I was younger,” Rupert said.
Playing the role of Fred Mertz involves wearing a bald wig for North senior Jeremy Goddard.
“It’s a little daunting” playing such as well-known character, Goddard said. “I want to make sure I portray him correctly.”
Each of the main cast members in the production said they hope to continue acting in years to come. All of them have past experience in theater productions, many stretching back several years.
“I’ve always loved the theater atmosphere,” Long said after rehearsing a scene in which she attempts to hide eggs in her clothing only to have them break next to her skin, a strange feeling, she said. “I’ll do anything for the theater, I guess.”
Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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‘Kandy’land: Kasy Long fills her mouth and hat with candy during rehearsal of a famous Lucille Ball skit Monday at Terre Haute North Vigo High School.
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Pie: North student Will Rupert takes a pie in the face from Thuy Nguyn during Monday's dress rehearsal.
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Dreamin’: Kasey Long portrays Lucille Ball during Monday's dress rehearsal of "We Love Lucy" in the North auditorium.
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Spaghetti skit: Lucy eats spaghetti during a restaurant scene of "We Love Lucy" on Monday evening in the North auditorium.
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Ricky and Lucy: Kasy Long and A.J. Contramaestre rehearse their lines for "We Love Lucy" in the North auditorium Monday evening.
Discussion
They still love Lucy
North actors having a ball re-creating legendary TV show
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