Casting and tryouts Flower Drum Song

miyoshi umeki played mei li

the 3 producers sought chinese, or @ least asian, actors fill cast, idea was, @ time, considered risky . in 1950s, there relatively few asian-american actors; rodgers believed asians avoided acting because of shyness. critics note, in case, asian-americans had found few opportunities in mainstream theatre. joshua logan recommended young japanese actress, miyoshi umeki, whom had discovered , cast previous year opposite marlon brando in film sayonara (for won best supporting actress oscar); cast mei li. cast keye luke, known charlie chan s number 1 son, master wang. rodgers , hammerstein considered young talent king , might fit parts, , came teenager patrick adiarte, filipino-american had played several of young princes grew up, before finishing crown prince, chulalongkorn. talented dancer, cast wang san, ta s thoroughly americanized younger brother. pat suzuki, japanese-american had been interned during world war ii, recent arrival in new york had made strong positive impressions singing on such television programs tonight show (with jack paar) , ed sullivan show. became first linda low, ta s nightclub love interest renamed.

the team found difficult fill remaining places in company asian performers, in chorus. 4 other shows asian themes had opened or in rehearsal in new york, , demand few asian actors strong. kelly , show s choreographer, carol haney, journeyed cities across country seek out talent. agents sent other cities; in honolulu, found nightclub singer , native hawaiian ed kenney, originate wang ta. meanwhile, in new york, 3 producers visiting dance schools. advertisement in new york chinatown newspapers received 1 response. no formal audition held in san francisco s chinatown, , find forbidden city nightclub comedian goro jack suzuki (who changed name jack soo), cast frankie wing, comedian @ sammy fong s celestial bar. role of fong proved difficult cast. initially, given larry storch, nightclub comic, during boston tryouts, given caucasian, larry blyden, married carol haney, show s choreographer. role of madam liang, master wang s sister-in-law, fell juanita hall, light-skinned african american had played tonkinese (vietnamese) woman, bloody mary, in south pacific. african-american performer, diahann carroll, considered cast not hired. rodgers later wrote, important actors gave illusion of being chinese. demonstrates 1 of wonderful things theatre audiences. people want believe see on stage, , gladly go along whatever done achieve desired effect. ask them accept ezio pinza frenchman [in south pacific], yul brynner siamese , prepared meet 9 tenths of way before curtain goes up.

when rehearsals began in september 1958, hammerstein absent, still recuperating surgery. rodgers present, kept falling asleep. hammerstein told son james kelly ineffective director, , began attending rehearsals. number of changes made songs. best love , song master wang, @ first thought better suited sister-in-law, when juanita hall not make work, song cut entirely. rodgers , hammerstein transformed song entitled beautiful beautiful . team decided include song sammy fong explain mei li should not wed. in span of few hours, wrote lyrics , music don t marry me . once songs finalized, robert russell bennett, had orchestrated several of creators successful previous shows, did same score of flower drum song.

the musical opened tryouts on october 27, 1958 @ boston s shubert theatre. audience gave enthusiastic response, causing rodgers leave seat repeatedly , race of theatre, looking hug. boston critics thought of work, stating after show polished, hit. shortly after boston opening, fields suffered heart attack, and, after release hospital, had return new york recuperate. author c. y. lee, had quietly watched rehearsals, recalled that, @ boston performances, hammerstein have secretary mark on script sound of chairs squeaking, indicating audience restless. hammerstein rewrote of book expand focus ta himself romantic relationships of 2 couples.