The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-20


every one wants to see and that
every one discusses after seeing It.
The moral and social atmosphere is
stirred up and improved in many ways
by having so useful and fruitful a topic
Of conversation. 10 say nothing of the
subtle benefits derived by all who We're
brought directly under the wholesome
and powerful spell of David WarfeId's
humor and pathos. and the noble unset
fshness OF the character he portrays.
That character seems destined to take its
place among the classics of the Ameri-
can stage. and high among them, for
there are few of the creations that
brought fame and honor to the actors
Of the past or of the present generation
that are more elemental in their appeal
TO the human heart. more noble and ad-
mirable than the character of the old Ger
man musician as worked out after the
manner Of genius by David Warfeld. It
IS a character that viii remain distinct
and beloved IN the memories Of nearly
all who have seen it for many, many
years. at once a delightful souvenir and
a standard Of fine acting. an impersona-
ton with which others viii be compared.
and in most cases. il is TO be feared. 30
their disadvantage II is TO be doubted
il Warfield ever makes another success
as great as he has made in The Music
Master" or has it in him 10 create an
other part that viii be at once as artistic
ally perfect and as moving as Won
Barwig. His success has in no small de-
gree been due to the naturaIness clear
ness. and correctness of the study of a
high-class German type with which he
has been provided or has provided him
self, for il is probable Wartield helped
10 build up the character Of Won Bar
wig after he undertook the part. This
fidelity 10 nature In developing the char
acter, even when not recognized by an
audience, has uncOnsciOusly its share in
the effectiveness OF the portrayal, and
especially in making il of enduring value
that people are anxious 10 see it again
and again. If il is true as reported
that Warfield viii be seen next season in
the role of an Italian immigrant of the
better class, the curiosity to see him viii
be intense among those who have en-
joyed him most in The Music Master"
The week at the Belasco was one Of the
most successful ever had by a theatar
IN Washington. It was a great surprise
10 Mr. Warfeld and his manager that
there was such a rush TO see the piece.
They had expected the business here
would be only good. Instead the opening
night was the best Warfield has had any
place, and the total receipts for the eight
performances exceeded slightly jhe best
week Of the banner Boston euga gement.
An agreeable feature Of the engagement
was the success of the Belasco manage
ment in keeping the tickets cut Of the
hands Of spectators and in serving It's
patrons directly AT the box Office with
q minimum Of friction and complaint.
Great as the crowds were that filed the
Belasco during the week, Washington
once more showed its capacity for sup
porting more than one fine entertainments
by giving aa entirely satisfactory bust
ness 20 John Drew in his excellent Pfnero
play at the National and Marie Cahul
in her rollicking comedy at the Columbia |
Altogether II was the biggest theatrical /
week of the season so far
II is understood to be the aim Of David /
Belasco, manager and dramatic mentor |
of David Warheld. to provide the latter
with a repertoire of strong plays that viii I
serve him for the remainder Of his ar /
tistic career. following in the footsteps /
of Joseph Jefferson and other great ac- /
tors of the past Mr.. Warfeld viii ap-
pear In new play from the pen of Be /
lasco, when the new Belasco theater in I
New York, the stuyvesant, is opened in |
the fail. OF course. it is expected the /
new play viii be notable success. and /
it viii form the second Of the Warfeld /
repertoire II it does not run through /
the season. Warfeld will revive "The |
Music Master" in which he is sure of /
drawing good houses in New York, or 4
any other large city Of the country. for /
many years 10 come. There isn't a doubt /
for instance, that Warneld could come
back to Washington this season and near
ly duplicate the business he did here last /
week. 1t was a mistake in the first in /
stance not 20 have assigned THE Music 4
Master to Washington for two weeks. /
But 1t is entirely probable the renown f.
garfield has Won in his present play viii 4
enable him to play out the next season /
in New York in the new piece Belasco /
is writing for him. even if it is much
less fitted TO his special genius than the
work Of Charles Klein. Warfeld's rep
utatiOn as one Of the greatest actors of
the American stage has been fully estab-
lished by his masterful Interpretation of /
Won Barwig, ard the glamour Of this sue
cess has surrounded him with such a
nimbus Of glory that the sympathetic
public will find strong charm in any
thing he may do for a long time TO come.
In the new play It is said Warheld viii
be given the role Of an Italian immigrant
new fad, susceptible of peculia rlv
narrowing development. threatens the
theater. Tt is symbolic scenery" and
1t is the invention of a son Of so essen
TALLY sane and brilliantly normal a per
son as Ellen Terry. Gordon Craig is the
young mans name. and events have Civ
en- him an ominous claim to the title of
prophet. for he has not been without
honor save in his own country. The
hard-headed British public and press
would have none Of ais symbolism in
stage setting. SO the enthusiastic apostle
OF this alarming new cult liked off to
Germany. where the stage is said to be
IL a period of decadence, and where.
therefore. it might be expected the queer.
the uncanny and the strained in art
would get hearing. And this proved to
be the case. Craig was hailed as a genius
and reformeFr and his symbolic scenery
accepted as great contribution to the