New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-04
Picking a Cast
Success and Failure Battle in Final .Trv.
OUT of Anderson's ''Creenwich
Village Follies''

as she had withdrawn a soiled hand
kerchief from it to dry her face after
a rehearsal.
She stood there beside the piano.
Her small, trembling voice filed the
great theater. Eagerness showed
plainly in her face. But there was lust
that something lacking that so often
causes theatrical producers to fail to
engage pretty girls, but 20 cast about
for others who have more quality. moro
me-lowness, more range. This chi,d's
voice would have set a society tea
gathering buzzing with approval. But
Broadway musical comedy production
must have more than beauty of face
and sweetness. There must be voice,
plenty Of voice, and something thai will
attract and hold the audience. This
child lacked that strength. But she
sang on, looking directly toward the
producer throughout, hoping, it was
very, very plain, that she might catch
a nod of approval from him, a smile,
word from his lips that might spell
success. But it did not come. Even as
Mr.. Anderson talked. he shook his
head, not knowin- she was watching
him, and she seemed to sense his
thoughts. There was little break in
her song. a strange, unhappy note,
and quick, frightened glance of ths
girl toward her mother. And the song
was ended
I'm going to tell her." he said, chat
she will hear from me in few days
If We can use her. l know she'll know
it's no use. They always do"
And then he went back upon thu
stage, where the rickety settings were
thrown about and the makeshift music
rack stood before the piano, and the
eager-faced rirl stood waiting And
presently she and her mother walked
away, half-hearted smiles upon their
faces. It was just one failure There
are thousands on Broadway every year.
In the new Folles there are to be
many actors who never before have
appeared in public professionally. It
is Mr.. Anderson's purpose to break
i'm amateur actors and train them.
In this manner he is enabled 20 OBJ
tain the most beautiful girls in the
city, he says, and he also is enabled to
eliminate the apparent" actresses.
By this, he means, he does not have
TO use chorus made up of girls and
women who make acting a profession.
Of course, once in the Greenwich Vii.
lage Follies," they may make a pro.
fession Of it forever after, but he is
eager to obtain talent that Will appear
new and "unworn"
There is the case Of the little italian
hand-organ player from New York,
own lower East Side. He was seen
one night to unpack saxophona a.
he stood twisting away at his hand
organ, and some one reported this Il
Mr. Anderson. So Joe is called in for
the nrst rehearsal, and how he doe
play He is retained for another try.
out. although it appears that he nevet
Will be able TO walk straight across
lhe stage or smile when &c IS this
proper time, or play anything but
something about "Mariuch." The fac
is, he speaks no English whatsoever
and very little of anything else. With
Joe Mr.. Anderson has had a tryina
month or more, and here he is on the
stage at the Lyric for the final show,
ing. Within a few minutes he wiki
know whether the next year or more
will be prosperous ones for him ana
the little brown skinned fellows in
his home downtown.
Mr.. Anderson is standing in the cen
ter of the auditorium to catch III.
music as Joe begins TO play. The pro.
Queer rests his chin in his upturnel
palms and listens. Joe plays a eros,
between a Hungarian rhapsody Ar,
nothing at all, and the producer smiles
Joes does few Of his favorite "funnvs
/ tcsas1nasd "a agt pass,