The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-12
NO SPEECH mad
At HIS Opening.
David Belasco and His Star I'm
I. able to Speak.
||HIL 1. Y 8 ELLIS WEEKLY /. ]! CHAT.
He Write. Entertaioing,y Of What IS
Going on in the Theatrical Work
Mrs. Campbell and Aunto
JEANNE.
HILLARY 3 WEEKLY CHAT
BY Hillary Bell.


Especial Correspondence of The I1mes3
NEW YORK, October lion the open.
ing night of the theatre named Dy ms
name David Belasco was 80 much over
come with emotion. that he entirely for
got the speech which he had carefully
written for impromptu IS delivery. Ills ftls
aphasia was unexpected by the mana ger,
and disappointing to the audience. Beias-.
co is an excellent speech MAKER not SO
much in the manner as in the matter- he
has few oratorical graces. put an ali. OF
great simplicity and earnestness "IlCn
bears what he says with conVlctlon. HIS
lips become parched AFTER q Ae" sen
fences, and while moistening them he has
opportunity not only to observe the eff
feet Of what he already has said, but
to prepare other and more telling express
sions. On this momentous OCCASION every
body looked for fight of Belascoan
sentiment, but the manager was SO filed
with joy over his theatre, that he came
forth as dumb man. laid his head IN
his hand, a faworite action with him even
in familiar conversation. said: II hank
you thank you, thank YOU, and fed be-
hind the scenes to fetch Mrs. Carter.
His star is no Demosthenes either. On
the Tooth night of .'Zaza" she sent for
this chronicler, who was sitting in front
"Oh dear! Oh dearl'' she cried In genuine
agitation. 81 know it. feel it in my
bones. They will want a speech after
the fourth act Mr.. David is away, and
could not think Of a word to say.
Please, please write out a few lines and
shall commit them to memory IN
minute, and be ready for the CALI So
+ oft . onI1p1a IF 4.
ings Zaza was letter perfect, and with
a yearning sigh OF emotion in every sem
tence. When the call came 1t was
tlunderous one The crowded house rose
to the burst Of passion with which she
always ended that scene, and a roar OF
"speech! speech!' filled the auditorium.
Zaza staggered out, looked blankly at the
audience ran her thin fingers through
her red hair. as if she was trying hopes
Iessly to collect her thoughts. There
was no speech. Swaying over the arm
of chair she bowed, and wept, and
cried, and waved her hand. and shook her
head, and murmured: THANK you,' and
disappeared, to fall into a dead faint be-
hind the scenes.
On this greater occasion also. Neither
the happy, manager nor his hysterfc star
could thlnk OF q line OF what alney udQ
prepared to say, but stood bowling dumb.
", like mandarins. until the stage mana
ger, in terror Of their sudden collapse on
the stage. rang the curtain down. Next
day. Belasco was ged at himself for
losing the opportunity Of a lifetime, and
the trust was angrier still because he
had not stood up like little man and
ascribed all his success to the long train
ing which he had received with Daniel
Frohman al the Madison Square and Ly-
ceum AS for Mrs. Carter. she simply
said: well, I can't help it. a never
could and never hope to make speech.
So that's all there is about it. It! I'll"
Although speeches., Be1asco has made
a. tremendous success. His house is the
most beautiful amusement building that
has ever been seen. The Belasco Theatre
is a marvel of luxury. taste and complete
ness and the Californian who came to
New York to make his living and who.
for twenty years or so, has sounded all
the depths and shadows of theatric for
tune now possess a play house that is
one Of the wonders Of the metropolis.