Kiss the Boys Goodbye (1941) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Cindy Lou's audition to play a Southern belle ended before she could demonstrate her talent to director Lloyd Lloyd. The opportunity passed quickly, leaving her without a chance to prove herself to the director.

• audition
• southern belle
• missed opportunity
• director

Backer Top Rumson and writer Bert Fisher specifically wanted to cast a newcomer rather than reuse an established actress. This created tension with director Lloyd Lloyd, who preferred his reliable standby Myra Stanhope despite her being wrong for the part.

• newcomer
• casting
• producer
• top rumson

After missing her NYC audition, Cindy Lou learned the producers were traveling South to cast the Southern belle role in person. She decided to follow them there, believing she could show them what she could do if given the chance.

• south
• follow producers
• audition
• bold move

Cindy Lou used the Southern audition as her opportunity to stand out. She performed a musical number showcasing her talent, then added a bold striptease that ended with her diving into a swimming pool. The audacious performance was her way of proving she could captivate an audience.

• striptease
• pool
• audition
• southern
• bold performance

Director Lloyd Lloyd was skeptical of Cindy Lou throughout the process. Even after her impressive Southern performance that delighted the other backers, Lloyd remained unimpressed and skeptical of her fit for the lead role. He only came around after returning to New York and reconsidering.

• director
• lloyd
• resistance
• casting

Gwendolyn Abbott, another actress involved in the production, quarrels with Cindy Lou during the spectacle in the South. The exact nature of their conflict isn't detailed, but it escalates to the point where Cindy Lou tosses Gwen into the pool.

• gwen
• quarrel
• pool
• conflict

Cindy Lou's bold Southern performance, including the musical number and pool dive, convinced the backers that she had star quality. When Lloyd Lloyd returned to New York, he realized she was exactly the actress he had been looking for. The production was then built around her talents.

• star role
• casting
• lead actress
• success

Cindy Lou was raised in the South, giving her authentic connection to the character she would portray. Her bold stage presence and willingness to captivate an audience demonstrated she could command the role in ways Myra Stanhope could not.

Foreshadowing: Her Southern background is established early when she mentions being raised in the South.

• southern belle
• authentic
• background
• talent