Evening Star Newspaper, September 27, 1931, Page 71

ho Will Be George W ashington? THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, SEPTEMBER 27, 1931. 3 Scene depicied in this painting will be re-enacted as a part of the Bicentennial celebration. It is Washington’s reception by his mother after the surrender at Yorktown, Two Men Wanted to Play the Character of “Father of Our Country” in Next Year’s Celebration of Two-Hundredth Birthday Anniversary of First American Presi- dent—One the Youthful Soldier, the Other the Mature Statesman. CAN YOU FILL THE BILL? 1. Height: 6 feet 2 inches. The selected characters may be a shade over or under this, but must have the appearance of noble height and must have an erect carriage. 2. Personal appearance: Broad shoulders, firm chin, large nose, strong mouth, blue eyes (prefer- ably) and broad forehead. The most important factor in their physical resemblance, aside from general build, will be the likeness of their three-quarters or direct groflle taken from the right side. eatures do not have to conform to the features of Washington, but must be adaptable to make-up. 3. Character: Must some measure of the men and moral characteristics of Washington. Must be a man who can express his emo- tions through action rather than words, possessing both dignity and self-control—more important than physlcal characteristics. 4. Race: Characters selected . should be of native stock, prefer- ably Anglo-Saxon. There we have the yardstick by whlcP the applicants be meas- BY CORINNE REID FRAZIER. ANTED: Two GENTLE- / / MEN, tall of stature, 2 broad of shoulder, large of nose and strong of face and character—to play the part of Washington.” Do not be surprised if you pick up your newspaper almost any day and read that ad- vertisement; for the District of Columbia Bi- centennial Commission, planning a gigantic pageant of George Washington’s life for next year’s celebration of Washington’s 200th birth- day anniversary, is conducting a nation-wide search for two such gentlemen. Yes, it will take two to fill the bill. In fact, there are some who hold the opinion that full justice cannot be done the superman to be depicted with less than four human beings to represent the suc- cessive periods of his amazing life. But the Bicentennial commissioners have de- eided that two men, with the aid of the best make-up experts the country affords, will suf- fice. One will depict the youthful Washington and the soldier; the other will play the part of the statesman, country gentleman and idol of the Amedican people. in discuss.ng the sub- Ject, it is to be clearly uriderstood that the two who will have the honor and responsibil- ity of this role must, above all else, be gen- tlemen, not merely in appearance but also in instincts an4 in train- ing “N> one less than a gentleman in the truest sense could play the role, however great an actor or however close a counterpart of the original a man might be,” said Repre- sentative Sol Bloom, director of the Nation- al Bicentennial Com- mission, commenting upon the proposed search for the proper material to carry the leading role of the coming open-air drama, which, he explained, is being arranged entirely by the Capital’s local commis- sion and not through his office, but in which, of course, he has a keen interest. “Dignity and conservatism must be the key- note of the bearing of this character. No man should be selected who would have theatrical reactions, for these things were 'holly foreign to the nature of George Wash- ington,” he continued, ‘“yet there should be nothing of the pompous, Napoleonic dignity in the men who undertake the role. Washington was very human and always young in spirit; formal when formality was required, but never stiffiy formal. That the men who could play this part must be cultured and should be of the Anglo-Saxon type goes without saying. “So far as physical resemblance is concerned, it is my opinion that the younger man selected for the early scene should resemble as closely as possible the Washington of Charles Willson Peale’s portraits, while the older Washington should resemble the Houdon bust at Mount Vernon, which has been selected by a com- mittee of experts as the outstanding likeness of the First President and the official portrait for the Bicentennial celebration. The more familiar Stuart likenesses of Gen. Washington are not so good a pattern to follow as the two I have named.” method being used by the District of Columbia commission in getting a line on possible “prospects” for the role, as well as for the delineation of the characters of Martha, Mary (Washington’s mother), Nellie Custis, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Pranklin, Col. Frederick Huff Payne, Assistant Secretary oj War, may be chosen for the titular role. Vaughn portrait of Washington. In the center is Mr. Payne, who bears a striking facial resemblance, and at the right Mr. Payne is shown as he would look with the Washington wig and raiment. \ Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette and & host of other notables whose lives are a part of this drn.ma, reveals the importance that they attach proper selections. Plnt all, each local commission or com- euel mypromlsmgmterialtnlulocal h the District of Columbia Commission through its second medium-—Nation- blicity. In July stories were sent out e national wires telling of the need for chnacters. and as a result letters are flowing in from aill corners of the 48 States, many of them accompanied by photographs of aspirants. When such letters and photographs indicate likely prospects, the District of Columbia Com- mission contacts the local committee in the applicant’s town and has him investigated per- sonally to see if he will fill the part satisfac- torily. That is the general plan. But the final se- lections will not be made from the letter writers and photograph senders alone. The entire country literally is being scoured and the choice will be made only after all fields and all walks of life have been covered. A distinction is to be conferred upon those who are chosen, and it is not to be conferred lightly. A careful study is being made of those in high official circles, particularly for the char- acter of Washington himself, for admittedly it would add glamour to the role if the per- sonality of the actor should be one widely known and whose character and ability should indicate that he is of “statesmanlike caliber.” At the left is the well known Already one gentleman has been singled out from this quarter and is being considered se- riously as the actor for the later scenes of the pageant—Frederick H. Payne, the Assistant Secretary of War, a man of splendid physique, who stands 6 feet in height, possesses a fine character and is said to bear an interesting re- semblance to the country’s first hero and statesman. The ranks of the country’s social elite are being combed, more particularly for the femi- nine roles perhaps, but with an eye to possi- bilities for any -of the multitude of characters needed—about 1,000 in all. Local committees are proving vastly helpful in this task, as well as are the newspaper accounts, which reap a rich harvest of suggestions following the pub- lication of each story concerning the commis- sion’s work. THI Bicentennial Commission points out that in the selection of characters from the social ranks it may get some actor of no mean ability, for many wealthy members of promi- nent social groups have been trained by the best instructors obtainable and perform ocon- tinually for charity. On the other hand, the advantages of hav- ing professionally trained and experienced performers in the cast are not underrated and the professioml theatrical ranks are being studied closely for talent, with. the cooperation of the Actors’ Equity Association, and it is ex- pected that a number of the principal char- acters will be selected from this source, for this drama is to be a finished product, not an ama- teur performance in any sense of the word. some of the country’s best talent has volunteered its services. “Volunteered” is the proper word to use, for another interesting feature of this pageant is the fact that all who engage in it will be doing so purely from & desire to serve and do honor to the memory of George Wi . No salaries are to be paid the actors or the auxiliary force. It has been a source of inspiration to the commission to note the eagerness and promptness with which experts have offered their services gratis, not only as members of the cast, but also in working out the details of the drama. Re- search workers have come forth with generous offers of their time in the task of authenticat- ing the details of stage-setting, costuming snd so forth. Set designers have volunteered, their names representing the cream of talent in this profession. Theirs indeed will be a gigantic labor of love and one which should be ap- preciated by the country. The lighting plot will be d-ne by the great< est experts in this line that the country ean boast—also volunteers. The most skillful make-up artists have evinced their desire to help. Representative Bloom points out one interesting little prob- lem which will face these experts—that of wigs. The wigs of most of the male characters, and many of the ladies, will pe expected to look like wigs, for that is what the originals were. But George Washing= ton’s head covering must look as much ag possible like his owm hair, for Washington never wore a wig. Hid own hair may have been powdered afi times, and was worn in the customar queue, but it was own. The pageant-drama Continued om Fourth Page