The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-10
CHAT WITH DAVE WAKEFIELD.
THE BEST OF STAGE JEWS TALKS
ABOUT HIS ACTING.
on the stage He " Quite . Matter-of-Fact
Person = II thoughtful, at Times seri.
0rs. but seldom sad. n Not at All
like the star A ctor as Usually Pictured.


second act. He wore the baggy trousers
and queer boots that he sports as evening
dress in the "Auctioneer" when he person.
ates Mr.. Leri OF Lexington avenue.
Oddlyenough he did not suggest a makeup
and Il was quite embarrassing, for his
| collar, which he fastens as no enters, flared
from its moorings on either side. He wore
no coat or waistcoat. II was disconoerting
| to find him 30 natural looking and without
| the vivid lips and oavernous eyes OF the
usual stage hero behind the scenes.
His wispy hair and whiskers and his bald
forehead were quite as real looking on as
on the stage. He was absolutely calm
and unrinled: placid az though he had not
just responded TO two %encores. each one
wildly enthusiastic.
Every one else In sight was excited. Stage
hands hurried across the hall as though
the whole thing depended on them. Others
we've carrying of the furnishings Of Leri's
old shop in baskets. for the properties
used in this scene are all real. They are
not painted on anvas but ara actual old
junk in the way Of marked-down goods
obtained from the dealers In out-of-the-
way quarters of the
mo, I'm not busy now, y said MIR. Warfield.
as though he had a good hour before him
instead OF the brief curtain pause. NO. I'm
never nervous. think you have TO be "a
cool as possible IL you want TO do the best
work with your audience. Oh, yes, I've
heard Of the highly strung actor, keyed
ND 10 a terrible tension before he can go
on. but I'm not that way a bit
He sat down comfortably as though he
were going 10 enjoy a chat. There isn't
the suggestion OF a pose about him. II IL
almost disconcerting to one who has met
favorite actors and been stunned and
scared by them,
-Of course you have a bulldog SAID.
-No,r he said gravely.
MOP" said the reporter i~ncredulously.
NO." he repeated sadly, mot yet. or
course, ! don't deny that i look forward
TO owning a bulldog some day. Every
actor does who has any ambition
There was no use trying TO guy him;
that was evident. The interviewer had
purposed telling him that she thought
| him PERFECTLY hateful in his play. Then
che was going to ask him II he liked sailed
| almonds, and II he wasn't glad 70 get away
from the atmosphere OF Weber h Fields's.
but she saw that he had answers ready.
Il suppose you felt sure OF success when
YOU started out as a starr
Il can't say that i did. / liked the play
and my part in II, but who can say what
il going to be a SUCCESS? ] had played the
comic Jew for 30 long that II seemed hazard
Of the character. | don't know that !
did try. 1t sort Of happened. Then
e Hsa SeTS effect o2 the typical Hebrew
nose, and II seemed as though | wasn't
quite dressed without it,"
. know, just like a girl feels In evening
dress without any powder onY
Eyes, suppose it's like that
Il suppose you've always longed to do
.No-i haven't. Nor historic heroes
It's all work, you know. an actors life,
and i think we're credited with a lot more
dreaming about art than most OF us indulge
in. It's practical business and very hard
work, and the production and rehearsaI
OF this piece before we brought IL To town
was a experience Ior US an
but you are a comedian. aren't your
Il don't know. What do you think
about itf"
Il always thought you were until this
piece was put on
aPa,hos and comedy are very nearly
allied. The smile and the tear are close 20
each other. ] first realized that. when J
saw Joseph jefferson play Rap Van Wtnkie
many wears ago. In that play II h the
transition from; one emotion 10 the other
that gives II It's great human interest
That Is why u rtlII hoidh HA audlen"-
after ~ many years.
Il SUPPOSE you ar" one OF 'hnSe come
dians with a naturally sad disposition
mo I'm not AT all sad always
used Ia read Rileys poems though anu re-
cite them. They nave w" human le+nIs
expressed IN huih"I anu l",.'s "lousm
IN Close con tunction IN som" OF lh" Verses
'Grggshy's station II lhe 'Ih' hhi boNt
at tEs Capitol JOY and sorrow alternate
IN their suggestions
The jew character Is more mls'epIe'
Hrntsi ON the STAG" TODAY 'ihl any p'n'i
The oDmic lrshman and n'rinah ana ItAllai
are not a. a rul" vulgar bu' wa" dew usuaIy
r.. IN his stag I~S'rronAilnls fieneIle
de- B.lleville Ia one 81 ~" Old brlhsoo sho
d. Mile oonledie- gave wa. hrs' s'ase ~
p,-rntation Of the dignity "i'he in".i"fh g""
The ZAngwtll efforts WEI" -"fl-"iA' ah"i'
tive 10 thair results
When YOU cunn" To "sIi"~ 'hs many
sides ~ the heirai' CHARACTER o' We CON.
-iy tyI- n lscum"s mofr siniIi" aiid ~ We
same lime more dini'ui' simple for ths
FACT that you oan AlNals ~ MOI, N"n a.
aud,rno" moved em"'i"nall thsn 9n'
suing lu cold "nilrlrm "h'n.ls. 'n'''
by m1rh "f radn"ss lir dih.ah y =,
sNi'rhius th" audu"'- ii"in 'h aug
dunrs he -"uouT ni'. Ih", ha's lansls-,
and no qu~rr cl''les - 80 J"s N"~
t.afHk aNuHTafNUU IL be- IHf 80 NnIn Nlft