Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-16
VERMONT TEACHER PROMOTED.
WRITING A COMIC OPERA.
Kirke La Shelle Tells Of the Trials and
Tribulatlons of the Librettist and
Composer.

Have you ever considered the intricate
complexities of the writing of a comic
opera? Have you ever wondered how the
librettist and composer, being probably
men of totally different temperaments and
with talents developed along widely di-
Vergcnt lines succeed in rounding cut
their work into "A harmonious and SYM
metrical whole? AS you have listened to
particularly complCate and chaotic
refrain have you ever tried to figure out
whether the words were iugsed to lit the
music or the music juggled to fit the
words?
These and numerous others of the
scientific, but interesting, points of the
building of the comic opera have been dis
closed by kirke La Shelle, who, in add
tion to being the proprietor. manager and
supervising stage director of the Kirk
La Shelle Opera Company. now appear,ns
in the Princess Chic" and of the Frank
Daniels comic opera company, in Miss
Simplicity" has to his credit in the lib
rettos of The Ameer" ana The Prin-
cess Chic" two of the most successful
and popular light operas of the higher
grade that have been presented for years
PERSONALITIES TO BE SUITED.
''rhe book and lyrics of comic opera
ars usually pretty well completed before
any work is done on the score" says Mr.
l,a Shelle. But long before they are
written several other very import ant
things have to be done by the libretts st.
First of all, the whole CompleXio OF the
piece is Influenced by whether 1t is to have
for its leading character II comedian or a
prima donna, If it is the former, the
comedy element must predominant, and
the writer may revel with much more
freedom in the realm of the ridiculous
If prima donna is to be the central fig
ure the piece must be more romantic and
legitimate in its atmosphere.
with the particular comedian or prima
donna for whom the piece is written in his
mind the librettist even before he knows
what his story IL to be like, will usua ly
decide upon what sort of "a character he
is going to give the star. Some prima
donnas appear to the best advantage
in roles which require them to he merely
coy and winsome. while others, who find
IT judicious to use tights as an adjunct to
their art, must be given swash- buclling
roles, in which they are obliged to disguise
in masculine attire, as this is the only
logical excuse whereby "A woman can as
sumo the doublet and hose. or, if the star
IS comedian, the author has to consider
whether he Is a man who will be best fit
ted with part that will permit of un-
limited Glowing and slapstick business
or one who. like Daniels, can make fun
more legitmately by using his brain, as
well as his anatomy.
PICTORIAL VALUE is IMPORTANT.
1.-The next point is to cover the locale
and period. and. no matter what the period
may be, whether II is up to the day after
tomorrow like Miss Simplicity or back
to the days of Robin Hood, the surround
ings and circumstances must be such
that the mise en- scene will be picturesque
and unique and colorful. Pictorial value
Is as important an element of a musical
piece as the music itself, for there is an
unwrtten but unbreakable law that re-
quires offerings of the musical STAGE to