Singin’ in the Rain,” which opened recently at Solaire, is a frothy and delightful staging of the 1952 movie starring Gene Kelly. It’s a production that can be enjoyed by all ages (kids will get a kick out of the splash zone and the amazing rain effects onstage).

 

For fashion and beauty junkies, “Singin’ in the Rain” is also visually stunning, with gorgeous and colorful wardrobes and sexy ’50s makeup featuring cherry red lips, sharp winged liner, sculpted cheekbones and flawless skin.

 

The two lead female characters, Lina Lamont and Kathy Selden, play actors in different stages of stardom. As silent films transition to “talkies,” famous beauty Lamont’s squeaky voice and grating accent are well on their way to forced retirement, while ingenue Kathy, with her rich and melodious voice, is a star waiting to be born.

Siren look

 

MAC, the production’s official makeup sponsor here in the Philippines, gave a quick rundown and tutorial on how to get the famous Hollywood ’50s siren look, and modeled the looks on the actors playing Lina and Kathy, Taryn Lee-Hudson and Bethany Dickson. Resident makeup artist Jaycee Matias shared these tips on how to score the perfect winged liner and sexy red pout.

 

Winged liner (on Taryn):

 

Jaycee applied MAC’s 24-hour Eye Base to prime Taryn’s lids, which helps eyeshadow stay put without any creasing. Apply the colorless primer liberally and feather all over the lids.

 

To create contrast against the stark black winged eyeliner, a light, matte shadow (Brulé) was applied all over the lid.

 

Blacktrack, MAC’s blackest black gel eyeliner, was used with an angled brush to create the sharp line. One of the trickiest things about winged eyeliner is making sure the wing is symmetrical. Jaycee recommends slowly building the line in short, sure strokes and starting from the outer part of the eye moving in.

 

 

The perfect red lip (on Bethany):

 

Prep lips with MAC’s lip conditioner before applying lip color. Tissue off any remaining lip balm on lips for a more solid matte texture.

 

A lip primer helps bright lip colors stay intense and resists feathering. Jaycee recommends applying the primer on the edges of the lips to ensure that color won’t feather.

 

Jaycee used lip liner in Cherry to help create a long lasting, intense red. She started dabbing the pencil at the center of Bethany’s lips, moving outside. “As you go towards the outer part of the lips, use short strokes to ensure the line is more precise—this will help give your lips a defined look,” she advised.

 

To get that perfect, sexy red, Jaycee used MAC’s iconic Ruby Woo, a matte red that has become every woman’s staple. Use a lip brush to paint on an even coat of red. Just like the pencil, work your way from the center of the lips and move outward.

 

To get that sharply defined Hollywood starlet lip, use an angled brush dipped lightly in concealer to clean up mistakes and shape the outer part of the lip.

 

 

Fun fact

 

“Fun fact: the international cast of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ does their own makeup,” said MAC’s Vani Vergara.

 

“I don’t know if that’s a fun fact,” said Taryn wryly.

 

While only Bethany gets drenched under the artificial rain, Taryn’s Lina gets her own version of waterworks. “I’m not under the water, but I do cry a lot onstage,” she said.

 

“I only get wet at the end, so I have time to prepare; I use all MAC products and they really don’t run,” added Bethany.

 

Taryn, who gets (fake) pie on her face during one of the scenes, uses Studio Fix to retouch her makeup quickly before the next scene. “I get shaving cream on my face and I have five minutes before I have to be back onstage.”

 

Said Bethany, “You get shaving cream on your face?” To which Taryn replied, “You put shaving cream on my face!”

 

Bethany also makes sure to use a long lasting lip color instead of reapplying more red, especially before her kissing scene with Don Lockwood. “Otherwise it goes all over his face.” Taryn added, “Which then goes all over my face. Thank God we’re all friends.”

 

The two girls are clearly makeup junkies, and Taryn said she plays around with lipstick when she needs to be inspired onstage, something that doesn’t sit quite so well with her director and wardrobe team.

 

“Sometimes I’ll change my lipstick from Act One to Act Two, just so it inspires me, I’ll wear a lipstick that irritates people…”

 

Director Anton Luitingh interjected, “That she’s not allowed to wear…”

 

“…That makes me feel good!” Taryn finished. She added, “I put Candy Yum Yum (a bright, Barbie doll pink) on and they put on my wig and they say, ‘That’s not period,’ and I say, ‘Too late!’”

 

Does Anton get stressed over this? “I don’t think stressed is the right word,” he said. “Frustrated. But then Lina likes to be frustrating.”

 

“I’m well-behaved,” said Bethany, staying charmingly in character.

 

“Singin’ in the Rain” will be playing at Solaire until Sept. 13. Visit ticketworld.com.ph to book tickets and view complete schedules.