The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-09
neWS of be Stage

| thrilled hts audience with his reading.
 his facial expression and his concep- 1 tion.
 l In my hasty treatment of the sub. ject In Saturdays Advertiser the ad- | mirable characterization of Friar Lau- | renee by MT. Compton was overlooked | Here is an actor who was so sure of his Shakespeare, so full of power and | yet so free from self-consclousness | that his Franciscan priest was made a | feature of the vivid picture. Again. | his reading of the charming prologue was so impressive as to surround the audience with a happy forecast of what was in store.
 BeIasco Talks of Stage War. Theatrical differences occupied the attention of Judge Fitzgerald of the Supreme Court yesterday, says Fri days New York Herald, the leading roles being assumed by David Belasco, playwright and theatrical manager,
 and David warfield, comedian, whom the manager has known since boyhood and to whose credit is his success as an actor.
 Samuel Untermyer appeared in the interest of MT. Belasco, and Colonel Abe Gruber represented Joseph Brooks and Klaw & Erlanger. An apprecia- tive audience thronged the court room. The dispute Is over the profits of
 "The Auctioneer." Belasco and Brooks
 want the partnership dissolved and an
 accounting. Abraham Erlanger was an
 attentive listener.
 Belasco testified that he took con-
 trol of Warfield in November, 1900, and engaged Lee Arthur Kahn to prepare
 play for him, first giving him ideas of what was wanted. One play that Kahn showed him, he said was impos- sible Charles Kline was called in, but
 he was not satisfied with what he fur
 nished.
 Colonel Gruber was a little uneasy at all these details and expressed willingness to concede that Belasco is the greatest playwright since Shake- speare. At last the playwright got a play which, after numerous changes, suited him. He went to Erlanger, he said. and told him he wanted a route, but Erlanger did not think much of Warfield, except as a Dutch comedian. Belasco said he was willing to stake his reputation on Warfield, and of-
 fered to give Erlanger $500 or $4O0, the
 usual rates for the season. and a small percentage. Belasco continued "Oh, to he'll with percentages" said Erlanger. I'll tell you what, Belasco, you let me in this and I'll make the
 managers swallow this fellow any how"
 Its not fair for you to hold me up by the throat" replied, "after all I've
 done for you and the syndicate. Don't
 push me to the wall It looks like blackmail."
 Don't you dare say blackmail to me-" he said. If you want a route you've got to let me in on this right" Belasco said he offered 20 per cent.
 but Erlanger was more than disgusted and retorted
 "I want half the profits, and if you
 don't give me that I'll crush you out
 of business. I'll kick you out of this
 theatrical business, and hereafter you
 won't get another thing. If I don't get
 half I'll crush you" r Belasco said he took a week to think 1t over and then told Erlanger he could see no escape from the proposition, but would insist on his own royalties as a secret author and a salary as stage manager Erlanger consented to the royalties, he testified. but said his (Be- lasco's) services could be given free, and added that no one should know of their arrangements and that Brooks would sign the contract as their rep resentative. All checks, Belasco said, were to be paid to Klaw 6 Erlanger, and during the year he sent checks to Klaw & Erlanger as their share of the profits for s30,014. His share was
 $12,267.
 Warfleld testified that he stopped playing the role in The Auctioneer" when Belasco telegraphed him that
 Brooks had enjoined the performance and a receiver was appointed. He said
 when the play was first produced it was bad, but Belasco made new play of it.
 Lee Arthur Kahn admitted that Belasco made valuable changes in "The Auctioneer,' but said he was a man without ideas"
 MT. Belasco will be further exam ined today.