Evening star., 1950-12-17
Consul Came Late
But at Ideal Time
Sponsors of Goyety Musical Wanted
Premiere Here Before Gotham Bow
By Joy Cormody

Gan-carlo Meno who wrote and composed rhe Consul"
produced it, Washington
spectacular piece of entertainment this
They might be happier had they been able to do almost
year for months before The Consul opened
production the ondes dream
producer Cowes Washington premiere
The project first brought correspondents
and his unavaing aid enlisted for it.
luncheon the Raleigh during the engagmen OF The
Medium and THE Telephone at the Oney Iheate that young
Cowes first mentioned it.
Noturor for Washington Opening
IT'S political opera" he said and Washlngon is the
the kind of tyranncal oaaran setup that we just finished
fighting the kind have to fight again 1t shows what it is
like free. This is where it should open'
Cowes tried and number of Washingonians tried with
him What he found was closed; Lsner
AUDITORIUM not available a policy effect since the
Joan of Lorraine and the Gayey still in ess
to the dying commerce of burlesqle ~
THE Consul" opened Philadelphia, Mr. Menotts
logical premiere city not quite as inviting as
this one . ,, =, -
It's upon arrival at the Gayy marked by an
opening night such Washington has not nearo
years. confirmed the convictions o It's sponsors
that this was the city 1.-The Consls premiere Never
thes possible the free worlds vastly increased tension
has enhanced the popularity OF the Menotl opera over Wa
might been last winter 1t was superb art ana
of both now in the emotional dimensions
1t has taken from It's time
An Uneonny journalistic Sense
speaks eoquenty for Menott than
young who write tiumphant popular
muse regarded belonging to the carriage trade
There also about him uncanniy fine Journalistic sense
that enabled him to choose the perfect theme for musical
the terrifying year 1880
the where the talk supposed to be
other talk the novestS and dramastS
knocked askew by the political ferment OF their
perspective, the complaint the
put hopeless against the writer who would like
his teeth into the times or the rest
of his anatomy into his writing art
his piano. apparently did not hear OF the nope
the political military and moral DIN
just beyond his window he made musical drama whose nness
extraordinary part of its terrific impact
Having chosen his theme the hepeness OF common men who
life Menot has stamped it with personal
quality irresistible dramatic value This quality
passon-s thing other creative have sied
tyranny helpless and trapped humanity
him greater than the frenzy OF sat
induces in audiences.
Consul Speaks Every Ones Emotions
The composer of THE Consul along with and
there these frightening hesant times
These others will doubt but Menotti enjoys the ad
vantage of being already here.
1t not impossible pick flaws the musical the
Gayety but is absurd and ungraeul 1t is true that makes
melodramac device available the hunted burst
the closed
door the nightmare that foretels doom, ETC.
Meno not afraid of these devices Instead he exploits
determined must ask Patricia
Neway in the role of Magda Sore sing
18inue this the to the
story of both singer
When The Consul" opened last
tentatively booked Washington only week
took but performance sponsors
ton that week of such entangy eloquent indignation
not enough.
1t could not have asked perfect compensation
regret felt that its world premiere
held here before its triumph in New York the spring