The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-27
WAKEFIELD EARNS A TRIUMPH
And David Beiaseo Sounds q War Note
THE Music Master" n Fine Play.

THE Music Master" q Fine Play.
Mr.. David Warfeld's temperance last
night at the Belasco Theatre as the principal
character In Charles Klein's comedy drama,
THE Music Master, brought to the attention
OF theatregoers the actor in higher develop
ment OF his art than he had yet revealed,
and the playwright as the successful author
OF good play. Mr.. Warfeld's part was
suited to his talents, or rather he suited him
self to the part, and, playing with repression
and intelligence, verified tho opinion of those
who have predicted for him an suspicious
career on the legitimate stage.
The story Of the play Is neither new
nor unfamiliar one, but 1t takes freshness
from the skill with which It is presented
and the rare ability with which it is told
Briefly, the wife Of Herr Ruton non Bdrtpt9
has eloped from their Leipsio home with his
dearest friend, Uhlmdnn. With her she
took her daughter Helen, and found home
In New York, where Uhlmdnn, under the
name Of Stanton, has risen to fortune and
If not to fame, at least to notoriety OF
not unpleasant sort. Sixteen years after
the elopment the action Of the drama begins
in the rooms of Herr uon Bdrtrig in house
in Houston street.
He has searched for his wife and child,
blaming himself az the guilty one, because
his devotion to music restrained him from
the domestic life that his wife coveted.
Unknown to him she has died, and their
daughter, under the name OF Stanton,
penetrates to his rooms to urge him to
give music lessons to protege OF hers.
The stirring OF long forgotten memories
interests alike the father and the daughter,
and she engages him as her own music
master.
In the second act Bdrpig learns the truth
which he has suspected, He faces Uhtmdnn,
and in a strong but not overwrought scene
demands his daughter. While the two
men are in dispute Mr.. and Mrs. Andre1
| Cruaer call to ask Heien's hand for their
son Beverly. Fearful that disclosure
of the secret might prevent this match,
| Bdrpig is silent. In the last scene, just
witnessing the marriage OF Helen to Cr,lger.
she, who has forced semi-confession
| from Stanton, comes to him and demands
| her birthright of a fathers love. The end
ing of this play is happy Perhaps IT might
| be truer if it were not, but 1t Is good end
Mr.. Warfleld as the kindly, honest, opti-
mistio and philosophio Bdruio played with
| moderation and naturalness part that
presented him in a most attractive nght
as an actor. Not OVERRIDING anu MOI shHht. .
| ing In any degree his lines or his business, .
he demonstrated the possession OF dramatic
force and skill. He might easily have
made the character ridiculous. Its pathos
might have been turned to bathos, but
Mr.. Warfeld played with fine Imagination
| and delicate touch, and won q triumph,
Miss Minnie Dupree as Helen was fully
| capable in her work, and gave an excellent
| portrayal not only Of the young and artlees
girl, the amateur worker in, philanthropy,
! but in the last act showed In strong con :
| trast the force of a woman who has come
| to her full stature. She shared the
triumph of the play, and contributed much
to the natu IA In ess OF the scenes.
Miss Marie Bates as Mise Houston, the
keeper of the boarding house, sustained q
character role difficult to handle properly
in mastery fashion, and In her one scene
OF emotion struck deeper note and rang
it true. Her maid, the blooming Jenny
was enacted by Antoinette Walker with 6
grace and vivacity that foiled effectively
the fine character sketch OF Leon hohl
Gollan was Mr.. Stanton and in an migrate
full part played with dignity and ease. Ir
]. Darlington Gates Mr.. Belasco foune
an actor In appearance and deportmen
fitting the H.s Of s s's1 k.n r1gs a n as nai
the mistake Of drawing the lover cad
Alfred Hudson as the secretary OF tine
musical union, Tony Bevan as the walking
| delegate OF the DrlCkmdkeTS, W. ~. Rio
ciardi and Louis P. verande as the com
panions in Houston street of Van BdTteig
William Boag as Andrea Cruoer, Loui
Hendricks as the proprietor of the dim'
museum where Van Bar,oio earned hi
scanty income, H. G.. Carlton as Stanton
secretary, Downing Clarke as bill collector
Harold Mead as servant, and Maste
Richard Kessler as the to-be pupil OF tn
master were we'll cast and capable
Isabel Waldron was Mrs. Cruger, LOOKING
and acting the part, and Sybil Klein AM
Jane CowI, as the shallow nieces OF Mrs
Cruoer, made the most OF small parts.
Mr.. Warfield was obliged TO respond T.
curtain calls after each act. He made on
speech Of thanks. Mr.. Klein bowed an
Mr.. Belasco made a speech. in which h
said.
Il am glad to acknowledge my obligation
to Mr.. Warfield, who, in spite OF perjury
lies, lawsuits and other petty annoyances
has been faithful to me. am proud OF him
and with friends like him and the public +
please which is my study and pleasure,
will never allow the syndicate to crush IN
no matter what their powers outside an
inside the theatre may be-"
Mr. Belasco had cause to be proud. H
has added another serious success to hi
already long record.