The Washington times., 1924-04-03
CASTING. OPERA
PROVES HARD
NATTER
Much Time and Effort Re-
quired to Find the "Just
Right" Types.

Writing an opera and casting 1t
are two entirely different matters"
We have the word of Genevieve
FarnelI Bond, librettist and lyric
list Of Cherry Blossom Time" for
this fact
'The first you may do in the
solitude of the studio, the park
bench or where not. But with the
second the inpresario's trouble be-
gins. For instance-the music of
the role OF the Chaperone Violet
in Cherry Blossom Time calls for a
powerful dramatic soprano voice.
The picture calls for a beautiful
woman, blonde, blue-eyed, with a
slight and fascinating tendency
toward the embonpoint, the person.
atty vivacious, ,tinctured with a
shade Of sophistication.
Such personality was found in
a Washington vocal studio. She
walked about delivering floods OF
exquisite melody, interpreted with
audaciouS repartee. She sparkled
like million-faceted diamond. And
SO 1t was that Violet. the society
chaperone Of Cherry Blossom Time
and Mrs. Alexander G. Bently-
prominent in Washington society
circles-were brought together at
the first opportunity, and the two
merged Into one delightfully."-, for
Mrs. Bently ID to sing this role.
A Different Type
Then there is Rosemary, which
role calls for an intense brunette
type-another sort of beauty-with
q touch of the sardonic. It, took
time to find her. Many candidates
were scanned, some with fine voices
but uniting personalities and lack
Of dramatic ability. Presently a,
series of telephone calls brought
Helen Marie KoontZ, who wears
the character Of the cast-of, but
pursuing sweetheart and the Turk.
ish trousers Of the Oriental boot.
logger adorably. and delivers vocally
with rich colorful fervor.
Frank Duggan, as Senator Keen
Klevahr, ruler, Of Congress and the
country in general, was already
there with his convincing speaking
and singing voice, his rugged char.
acterization, to create the role.
Time was consumed in finding
his Senatorial accomplish Sellum
Skeemit. He was finally located in
Lawrence X. Downey, who, despite
his youth, wears the fine dignity of
the impersonAtion well, and sings
with depth, resonance and beauty.
With a sprinkle OF powder on his
jet-biack hair, he is every inch the
handsome father Of the youthful
Blossom.
Grating Officer Hard to Find
Three castings of Bob the
grating revenue officer, finally
produced Joseph E. Cogan, who
danced, laughed and bluffed his
way into the part with a delightful
brogue and a large and iIligint
thirst and most pleasing bari
tone voice.
"Tenors came and tenors went
unacceptable until Everett Storms
Hardell walked into the opening
offered by Hal, the romantic juve-
nile, with his full round tenor
voice, his emotional, dramatic inter.
probation. He is very young, and
we think the public will find him
very delightful.
Julie, the French maid, we found
'ready-made' in Madame Juliette
Francey, with her exquisitely charm.
ing French accent, 1.-THE figure and
infectious laugh.
Last Of all in the casting came
the little Cherry Blossom herself,
the object Of the love of the boss
Senator and young Hal at the same
time. This part was the most diff
cult Of all to cast, because the naive
Juvenile requires the art to conceal
art. Many candidates offered them.
selves. One was too hoydenish, one
was too big, the voice Of another
was too mature, though her face
was young. One had the youthful
voice, the right height, but a ma
ture figure. One was frankly huge.
One delightful little creature was
horribly shocked because she would
have to hurl the questionable
epithet at her lover, You cave
mani
FINALLY one day fluttered into
the studio an atom of humanity
scarcely five feet in height, with a
lovely childish face, who delivered
a coloratura solo with power and
exquisite taste.
Blossom Is Found
This was dainty Evelyn Gribbin,
the very final word in the character
Of Blossom, sub-deb Juvenile lead.
The selection of the six young men
and SIX young women who consti.
tute the double sextet-debutantes
and Congressional secretaries-.re.
Quired months. They were picked
for voice, type. size, dramatic de-
livery and dancing facility. When
they were photographed in costume
with the handsome seven.passeRger
car which is to be used in the pro.
duction, stage Johnny trouble com.
menced when gentlenanly specta-
tor completely lost his head over
the girl in pink When he was
told that the matter must be re-
ferred to Director Bond, his spirits
tagged, and he said in parting
that IL It couldn't. be one in pink,
the one in blue would be his next
choice, and that he didn't know
there were six such beautiful girls
In Washington. He was informed
that these were only six OF several
times six of the priziest OF prize
beauties which form the feminine
part of the Washingtonians' en-.
Semble in Cherry Blossom Time"
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