Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-23
RELASCO TELLS HOW He MAKES A PLAY
A LOVELY LIFE. FULL OF HARD WORK
MUCH FEELING MORE

had come at balf-past nine o'clock looked at
the little clock above. Its hands pointed to a
quarter after ten, and Mr. Beasco had only finished
composing his play He is vouble flexible interested
His emotionalism flares out with each word he ut
tiers. / afraid he may grow tired before he has
unravelled his whole stage scheme OF things. so
ask about his human instruments-his actors and
actresses How does he train them for their parts?
II study them" he says. Study them-study them
all the time" He looks out into vague distance;
doubtless they all trooping there before him.
tNhot do their characters run to? Now this actor
what has been his life? Has it been wine, woman
and cards? This man again-does he drink? Is ne
quick tempered2
may be called upon to play great, sublime parts II
she has led a life of excitement try to calm heryes
[pause1 / try to calm her. And l come down to
the theatre. Now the stage-yes, yes"
Mr. Beasco looks off once more, off into the phan-
tasy of his creations. The visionary properties lie
about him in their stageland gloom. The little room
with the gided chairs in which sit is far away
''Y-es-um Inland goes up to mouth, little finger
goes within lpsl. Is 1t best to have that sofa
there?-um-um-No you are playing Agnes"
that had been the girl waiting at the station for
her sweetheart now becomes Agnes.
All Careful Study.
ooh, yes study her-I study her temperament
Yes yes look at my girl: 1 think I going to
make that girl Agnes I say now, girl you sit on
that chair. No. no. don't want you to wipe your
eyes that handkerchief-just do 1t like this (de-
scrptive pantomime with anger) develop
that way don't believe in crowding ittust little
things that would do. may change the
whole thing tomorrow. Pfeu-eu-eu-euwr Mr.. Be
lusco sends forth Ieviathan puff. He pauses. then
continues
"Now, girl there's that speech-do you get the
of it? Yes? Now try it. Now, say. Let
watch little adjectives; a little adjective
lot. How much emphasis do you want on
it? No, no; that is too much-there, leave it. leave
it. Do not underline your adjectves. Now read it,
and try to feel it-fee it. see? Don't take it in cold
blooded way. 1 say Always listen to me but don't
initiate mefeel it like debut don't initiate me-
My golden rule is not to destroy personality.
nat ~ only nd m fhofr i'm.
aginations their emotions, their intellects I say,
Have you got under your corsets, girl? Have you
got it under your wastcoat boy? If you feel 1t take
1t and do it In your own way"
81 cannot prepare. cannot prepare" he says. "For
FORMS sake I make some directions in the
script--a picture here, fireplace there; but
liable to change them all next day. I take things
they come | don't go at them in a cold blooded
way. feel more than see feel my bues-I feel
my sunsets"
"Are you always trying to conceive fresh stage
effects?
'In play I try to do nothing that accomplished
yesterday. | always believe In MISUNDERSTANDING
on. In my dctiou, in my productions, in my lights,
in my atmosphere I try to learn, to advance. No
matter how good thing appeared last season. the fol
lowing year l seem to more, and never repeat"
Mr. Belasco pauses He rests at the end of a lap,
to speak, in this Marathon of mine. The clock
hands have crept to eleven.
l ask him If he could anayze the secrets of his
skill?
work. work." said be; "work and-temperament,
for matter how hard you labor play writing nust
be instructive. 1t is intuition, instinct temperament
Inspiration Like the poet and like the musician, it
must be od-given. That and-yes-a lifetime
passed in the theatre 1t is the most difficult Of the
arts. You must be dreamer and mechanic In one
All The books in the world cannot teach you unless
God has touched you with His hand and said My SON
you fitted for play writing"
Mr.. Belasco rests his whened, rebellious head upon
his hand as he ceases speaking. He is silent for
long, long time and then he says, in low tones-
Il have passed lonely life. l have very few
friends Moods affect me. / have had a busy life
started to labor while almost baby. have worked