The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-23

tsc Has Spne " my way or talnkinE as to my ability to really act, the future has tken Oh rosy hue. Everybody may not think 1t Is the finest thing In the world to be recognised as d good actor, but do. suppose that f6ea was born in me. You know some wit once said that actors will happen even in the best regulated families.' be- lieve that's true. Actors happen; they are not made"
 A Humap Sort ef Man.
 Exactly so." interposed Mr. Belasco. who. intent and happy, was seated or, the edge of the divan at the end of the long and narrow dressing room. No amount of study can make an ac- tor. They may he developed--that's . all. That's all have done to Mir warfield or to any other artist who has become prominent under my man. age.nent.
 T watched Mir Wsrfield for years. saw that he was very human sort of man, that he was Sympathetic, mag netic and responsive, He showed all those characteristics even when he was playing that impossible Hebrew char acter and selling old hats. Although it was an impossible and exagxerated character 1t did not offend the He- brews: 1t amused them and 1t amused the Christians as well That was the underlying secret of Mr. Warwick s success in those low comedy roles. He was entertaining in such good ria : tured way that he was not obnoxious. And so I took ,hold of him. The re- suit came last Monday night"
 For some three years. ever since Mir. warfield left the Weber & Fields forces to go under Mir. Belasco's man agement, he has been developing in the Belasco artistic atmosphere
 During this time Mir. Warfeld has gradually cut away and been dexter- ously led away from the fiippant and shallow Broadway influences. He Is not fond of cafes or other resorts wliicli farce comedians and men about town are given Z to frequentins He hears other conversation than that devoted to horse racing and luck at poker. He stays at home instead of haunting Broadway reads good literature in- of art instead of fiaringiy arrayed chorus girls and hears good music in- stead of rag time.
 All this has worked marked and remarkable change In the mental at titude and personality of Mir waraeld
 From "Dave" to David.
 It has evolved him from the genial and jolly Dave" of the music halis to the thoughtfui and earnest David Warfield of the drama
 The change from the music hall clown to the exponent of dramatic art was not sudden transformation by any means. It was brought about gradually and naturally. Probably MT. warfield himself does not realize or appreciate It, buF his friends do His work in '"rhe Auctioneer" was on- ly stepping stone. a part of the pro- cess which helped rid him of the old mannerisms.
 When l was playing The Auc- tioneer." continued Mir. Warheld, as he gave a finishing dab to his face, there were several pathetic and tragic bits in the original play that I fairly ached to do, but Mir. Belasco cut them out and wouldn't listen to any of my pleadings to act them. He held them back and said he was saving them for me until I was ripe He kept them until this play. You see he wouldn't let me really act until he thought I was trained down sufficiently fine. , He would not let me go off half cock ed."
 Did you resent itg'
 'At the time, yes. naturally. But got over that feeling quickly. Now am glad of it."
 "Is there any truth in the rymor that MT. Belasco hypnotiZes his actors?"
 T shouldn't wonder if there was. In fact, really think he does. but you are not conscious of it at the time."
 The smiling. clerically clad Mr. Be- lasco on the divan winked and chuck led.
 Hard .Taskmaster.
 ''He Is a hard taskmaster. but mo- body ever thinks of complaining. Night after night we will rehearse all night long and sometimes all the next day, and there is never a grow1 even from a stage hand. He seems never to get tired, nor do his employees. He will ask us to go over a scene again and again until you would think ev- erybody's patience would be utterly exhausted, but no one ever thinks of guess that's hyppotism. It Is very hard work but 1t brings results, and that makes up for 1t.
 You know nothing from nothing brings nothing Mr. Belasco's meth cd is the opposite.
 -Four hours sleep day is all any of us think necessary when we are re- hearsing. Sometimes 1t Is more thap we get"
 MT. Belasco's smile broadened into a grin.
 That very state of affairs occurred with this play. We rehearsed day and night for five weeks, and oh, the changes and changes that were made! It was like constructing a new play as we went along-but it was worth while"
 Fortunate in His Play.
 Of course, MT. Warfield has been fortunate in getting a good vehicle in which to first exploit his talents as a legitimate actor. MT. Charles Klein's play is a very clever one and he de- serves no little credit for the excellent stage mechanics he has employed and of which he has shown himself a mas ter. The story is entertaining and logical. the characters are clearly drawn and distinct types, and climaxes effective and natural All this has con tributed largely to MT. Warfield's uni versally acknowledged and brilliant success. It is unpleasant to think what might have happened If the play had been less meritorious.
 The stars part of the lovable old music master is a new departure in German character drawing. There is nothing of the burlesque about 1t, noth ing to arouse contempt or derisive laughter. It is sympathetic, strong and heroic In a good. homely way. The old music teacher is not a caricature. but a real man. of whom there are doubt less hundreds of prototypes today. He Is cultured. intelligent, chivalrous, warm-h hearted and poor.
 It is a long step to such a character from the red whiskered. grinning street falrir and seller oP old hats with whirh