Barrymore Sings for Her Supper

              BARRYMORE SINGS FOR HER Supper


ETHEL BARRYMORE COLT
THE YOUNG AND LOVELY PRESENT GENERATION REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BARRYMORE CLAN DISCUSSES WITH PERSUASIVE CHARM AMUSING AND INTERESTING INCIDENTS IN HER CAREER AS SHE TELLS HOW ...

A Barrymore sings for her supper

• Charming Ethel Barrymore Colt represents the eighth generation of her famous theatrical family—the fifth generation in the United States.  Her Royal Family tree has produced names that have made theatrical history — Eliza Kinlock, Mr. and Mrs. John Drew, Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Drew, Maurice Barrymore and the three great histrionic names of our day—Lionel, Ethel and John Barrymore.  So it is fitting with this heritage, that Ethel Barrymore Colt has experimented with every branch of the theatre as she's worked toward her own individual goal—the operatic stage!  • Miss Colt was born in Mamaroneck, New York.  Like her mother and grandmother before her, she was educated at Notre Dame Convent in Philadelphia and attending finishing schools in France and Italy.  • Miss Colt was only eight years old when she first stepped on the stage in a children's play at school.  Later when she made her real stage debut, her radiant loveliness was concealed by blackface in Scarlet Sister Mary, with her mother, Ethel Barrymore.  After that, her roles ranged from the legitimate stage to musical reviews and light opera and included summer stock, night clubs and sponsored radio programs.  She also owned and operated the Jitney Players, a travelling theatrical troupe that covered 30,000 miles in one year!  Handling this project successfully was an amazing achievement for a young girl who played many of the leading roles as well.  • During this time, Miss Colt studied voice with Queena Mario, coached with Emil Cooper.  She finally made her debut as Micaela in Carmen with the Columbia Opera Company in Baltimore, thus starting her step by step progress to her cherished objective.  She soon graduated to the roles of Nedda in Pagliacci, Musetta in La Boheme, Olga in Fedora, Siebel and Marguerite in Faust.  She has been associated with four opera companies.  • In February, 1944, Miss Colt sang the title role of Martha at New York's City Center.  She also sings the role of Violetta in La Traviata and has appeared in this opera many times.  Press and audiences in major cities have greeted her singing performances enthusiastically.  • On the lecture platform, Ethel Barrymore Colt has a fascinating story to tell—and she tells it with magnetism and a Barrymore's true appreciation of entertainment value!


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NATIONAL CONCERT AND ARTISTS CORP.
PHYLLIS MOIR, Director Lecture Division   PLAZA 3-0820
711 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 22, N. Y.




COMMENTS

NEW YORK TIMES:
In the role of Lady Harriet ('Martha') Ethel Barrymore Colt displayed a sweet, securely-placed soprano, well suited to the part.  She sang the 'Last Rose of Summer' poetically in what amounted to mezzo-voce with superb results.


NEW YORK DAILY NEWS:
Miss Colt, who has sung on tour for a couple of years, has a warmly friendly and graceful presence, admirable modesty and a pleasant soprano voice which she uses intelligently.


PM, NEW YORK:
The completely winning ways and clear soprano voice of Ethel Barrymore Colt as 'Martha' … put over the show.


STAMFORD ADVOCATE:
An audience including notables in the music world, gave enthusiastic acclaim to Ethel Barrymore Colt last evening when she made her debut as Violetta in Verdi's opera, 'La Traviata,' Miss Colt, with her fortunate possession of a combination of fine voice, histrionic capability, personality and charm, took over her part with deeply satisfying artistry.  Her singing set a high mark which was lived up to throughout.


DANBURY NEWS-TIMES:
Last night, Ethel Barrymore Colt, every inch the child of her famous mother with a fine singing voice added, made her debut in 'La Traviata.'  That Miss Colt possesses dramatic ability is no matter for surprise.  But that she should also be possessed of a dramatic soprano voice of lovely quality and operatic timbre is something of a departure from the Barrymore tradition.  She sang with feeling and tenderness.  Her full tones were deep and clear and her interpretation of the role as a whole, both dramatically and vocally suggested a largeness of style which gives rich future promise.


QUEBEC CHRONICLE:
Miss Colt has a fine voice of marked promise and her full share of the Barrymore heritage of good looks, distinction and intelligence.  Her long aria in the third act deserved the applause it received.  (Micaela in 'Faust').


DETROIT NEWS:
Miss Colt as Musetta in 'La Boheme' acted with far more conviction than you'll see on the operatic stage in years searching and she sang Musetta very well indeed.

NCAC