The Omaha guide., 1939-01-14

Commandments
New York, Jan. u (by Eva Jes-
sye for ANP)-If there is truly a
broken heart for every light on
Broadway, according to the old sol
ballad, nine tenths of them must
be shattered at the starting post
which in the theatrical profession
is tho addition stage. The try
out Is the route to fame and year
after year thousands Of Negro
hopefuls apply only to be found
wanting of the sparkling talent
Broadway demands. The disap-
pointment and Encouragement suf-
fered by asuirants during one sea
son would fill volumes. The sing
ing field gamers the largest crop.
Human emotions involved in an
addition are varied and interesting
Fear, envy, suspicion, desperation
often the event is the final straw
to a drowning man. Would-be-
stars, lacking carfare, walk the
seventy blocks from Harlem's edge
to Broadway's centre. Applicants
seem to be drawn from every con-
ceivable place. Many wear bor-
rowed finery sing from borrowed
music.
There is a type, a story in every
individual. Veterans at the game,
unconcerned, assured; the first
timer, edging nervously up to a
fellow asking to be shown the
"main" man, whether the spot has
been filled, etc.-A smalltown lad
trying to look as if he knew all
the understandable aged putting
on a juvenile front--a stout con-
t~ralto, tightly corseted, tries des-
perately to keep stomach and bos-
ON in shadow. Thin-legged wom-
en- surreptitously strike the most
flattering pose. A former prima-
donna enters swathed in furs-
seeking to impress by studied en-
trance-stands apart till approach
ed, then insists on being heard inn
mediately.
+, When a producer or agent sends
out a call for singers there. is no
telling what the harvest will be,
but it is certain to be full of sur
prises. Like casting a net in the
deep sea, one may draw anything
from a minnow to a whale. Any
thing from a hog called TO a Flor
ence Mills. No producer passes up
the chance for a discovery" and
will listen down the line of sing
ers to the very end.
is GIVE AND TAKE GAME:
1t is serious business, the MAX
ing and holding of additions. The
aspirant gives all he has. freely,
desperately, the producer takes it
all in, cody, unresponsively. Pro-
ducers are a poker face lot, with
a few exceptions In vain may the
singer search the face before him
f ora hint of his fate. Good or bad
the Judges face tells nothing. In
fact, the more pleased the produ-
Ger, the more inexpensive his
face is likely to become. To show
enthusiasm would puff up the per-
former, run up his price, discour-
age the others, but this philosophy
sometimes works a loss at both
ends Often the aduitor sits far
back in the theatre in darkness,
the glow of a cigar the only sign
of his presence. The darkness
permits a keener focus, absolute
relaxation and puts tie singer
more at ease.
In many instances there is an
elimination board, thus only the
most promising voices reach the
decisive ear. Mostly dreaded by
singers is the auditor who strolls
or rushes back and forth like a
Gagged beast while the vocalist
shows his wares. Likewise disgust.
ing in the producer whom after in.
strueting the singer to proceed
begins an animated conversation
with a third party, never giving
the performer a glance until thu
end, when he says vacantly "Thanl
you very much" And it is timt
wasted.
PORGY ADDITIONS Memoir
ABLE EVENTS: Of all the audi
lions witnessed by the writer il
~ years the one held in search TO