Opera for Small Fry

Rimsky-Korsakov's much-played Flight of the Bumble Bee comes from an opera, Tsar Saltan, little played outside of Russia. At the opera's climax the son of Tsar Saltan turns into a bumblebee, stings two wicked women, eludes pursuing courtiers. Last week a Manhattan audience screamed and yowled with delight at this tale. The opera, retitled The Bumble Bee Prince, was put on by a non-commercial organization called Junior Programs, Inc. The audience: 1,600 school children, aged 5 to 15 (700 more were turned away). Admission: 25-c-.

Junior Programs was started, and is still run, at no salary, by a New Jersey suburbanite, Mrs. Dorothy McFadden, who wanted to give her children something better than they could get from radio and comic strips. Though its audiences are small fry, Junior Programs performers are adult professionals, paid at union rates. Last year Junior Programs troupes traveled 80,000 miles, gave 558 performances of opera, ballet, drama to nearly 1,000,000 youngsters, at admissions of 10-c- to 25-c-. Since each performance costs about $300, Junior Programs bookings must be sponsored locally by organizations like Rotary, Kiwanis, Parent-Teacher Associations.

Mrs. McFadden discovered Tsar Saltan on a trip to Russia, translated it herself, had it streamlined and arranged for piano accompaniment. The other Junior opera in the repertory is Louis Gruenberg's Jack and the Beanstalk. Newest of Junior ballets is Robin Hood, written by Junior Programs Producer Saul Lancourt, danced to old English tunes.* Last week, on the heels of the ballet troupe, the Junior Programs opera company went on a 30-week tour, its ten members in automobiles, its scenery and costumes in a truck.

*Last year Victor recorded Junior Programs, The Bumble Bee Prince. On current Victor lists are Robin Hood (in the form of a musical play) and Hansel and Gretel (with orchestra), which Junior Programs occasionally sends on tour.

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