By Jeanni Ritchie
Louisiana Christian University’s Theatre Louisiana Christian (tlc) presented The Drowsy Chaperone at the Martin Performing Arts Center last month, bringing a clever, high-energy “musical within a comedy” to the university stage.
The story begins with Man in Chair (Cayden Walls), a charming and slightly melancholy narrator who invites the audience into his favorite escape—a vintage Broadway musical played from his record collection. As the music begins, his apartment transforms into the vibrant world of a 1920s stage production, where the story unfolds with all the flair, chaos, and comedy of the golden age of musicals.
I was transported to the ‘80s and the way my sister and I would also play Mom’s soundtracks on the stereo, reenacting musical numbers and bringing favorite shows of our own to life in our living room. Walls was incredible as the Narrator who lived within the scenes of his mind.
At the center of the plot is showgirl Janet Van De Graaff (Kayla Condrey), who is determined to leave the stage behind to marry her earnest fiancé, Robert Martin (Isaac Landreneau). Their wedding, set at the estate of the delightfully eccentric Mrs. Tottendale (Kaylin Bagby) and her ever-proper Underling (Will Patton), quickly becomes the backdrop for a whirlwind of comedic mishaps.
Condrey was adorable, and hilariously showed Janet’s reluctance to give up the limelight as she ceremoniously performed Show Off.
I don’t want to show off no more, she sang — over and over until one doubted the sincerity of her words.
Robert’s well-meaning but anxious best man, George (Jeffery Williams Jr.), tries to keep everything on track, while producer Feldzieg (Aaron Quartemont) schemes to stop the wedding in order to keep Janet in show business. His plan is aided—somewhat unsuccessfully — by a pair of gangsters posing as pastry chefs (Joseph Johnson and Kaiden Carbaugh), whose hilarious antics add to the mounting chaos.Toledo Surprise was one of my favorite numbers of the entire show. There’s Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis… and Joseph Johnson and Kaiden Carbaugh. The gangsters should have their own spin-off!
Back on the stage, Aldolpho (Austin Laenger), a flamboyant self-proclaimed “Latin lover,” is enlisted to sabotage the romance but instead finds himself entangled with Janet’s hilariously unbothered, and slightly tipsy, chaperone (Cheyenne Carbaugh).
Laenger brought down the house every time he stepped onstage, managing to play the lothario so disarmingly you couldn’t help but root for him. Cheyenne Carbaugh was hilarious as well, her apathy toward her job as the chaperone seamlessly turning to manipulative machinations as she snags Aldolpho for herself.
Adding to the fun is Kitty (Olivia Huffman), an ambitious would-be star eager to take Janet’s place. Her dumb blonde act is not an act—she is “quite stupid” the Narrator claims—but she has a moment of sheer ingenuity at the end that you can’t help but be impressed. Huffman was perfect in the role.
Trix the Aviatrix (Abigail Wheeler), whose grand entrance helps bring the story to its delightfully over-the-top conclusion, is likely the most normal character of them all—and she arrives on a giant plane in the middle of the set!
Throughout it all, Man in Chair remains onstage, guiding the audience through the story with witty commentary, occasional interruptions, and a genuine love for the musical that reminds us why stories like these matter.
As the show builds toward its multiple weddings and joyful finale, what begins as a simple love story turns into a playful celebration of musical theatre itself—complete with mistaken identities, show-stopping numbers, and just the right amount of absurdity.
Rounding out the cast were Mel Dugas, A’Melia Perkins, Caroline Johnson, Corey Broussard, Kara Westbrook, and Riley Nickens, all contributing to the lively ensemble that kept the production moving with energy and charm.
This production also served as a senior spotlight for Cayden Walls, who not only starred as Man in Chair but also directed the show and designed the set. His presence anchored the performance from start to finish, guiding both the story and the audience with confidence and heart.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist and lifelong theatre fan. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
Photo Credit: Abby Nichole Johnson
