 | Shirley Temple (1928-2014) was a famous child star known for engaging audiences with her signature ringlets, her dimples, her ability to tap dance and sell a song, but most of all for being cute. |
While Shirley Temple had a lot of natural abilities and other assets, she also had teams of people helping her. She had vocals coaches, choreographers, screen writers, composers, directors, photographers, costumers, hair dressers, and make-up artists helping to make her look good. She even had dentists who made little dentures so the public never saw her with missing teeth.
Those handlers knew how to capitalize on her natural ability to charm people. Some critics say that her handlers kept her looking and acting like a baby far too long. Indeed, Shirley had a hard time transitioning into a young adult in the movies. Her audiences loved the "child star Shirley Temple." They did not readily accept her as a grown up actress. No wonder she gave up making movies when she was still a teenager. (But that's another story.)
The Shirley Temple "child star of the 1930s" exuded pure "Cute Factor." Some of that was natural, but a lot of it came about because of her handlers. Her vocal range was actually quite limited, so her composers wrote songs that would fit her range and abilities. "Animal Crackers in My Soup," "On the Good Ship Lollipop" and "I Love to Walk in the Rain" are three she was quite famous for introducing.
Those handlers knew how to capitalize on her natural ability to charm people. Some critics say that her handlers kept her looking and acting like a baby far too long. Indeed, Shirley had a hard time transitioning into a young adult in the movies. Her audiences loved the "child star Shirley Temple." They did not readily accept her as a grown up actress. No wonder she gave up making movies when she was still a teenager. (But that's another story.)
The Shirley Temple "child star of the 1930s" exuded pure "Cute Factor." Some of that was natural, but a lot of it came about because of her handlers. Her vocal range was actually quite limited, so her composers wrote songs that would fit her range and abilities. "Animal Crackers in My Soup," "On the Good Ship Lollipop" and "I Love to Walk in the Rain" are three she was quite famous for introducing.
Young actors trying out Children's Theater for the first time will be lucky if they have caring directors, costumers and choreographers who will help them develop their own "cute factor." Directors will choose a vehicle that has written in moments of kid "cute factor." Choreographers will help them do age appropriate moves enhancing their "cuteness." Costumers will use their talents to help the kids "get into character."
| The little Lambs in "Never Cry Wolf" never fail to tickle the funny bones of the audience when they sing and dance "Little Lambs Pastorale." |  |
 | Henny Penny and her brood of little Chicks always delight the audience with their rendition of "Cheep, Cheep Peck a Little" from "The Tale of Chicken Licken." |
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