The Washington times., 1909-01-07
GATHER AT SHRINE
OF DAVID WAKEFIELD
Crowd Pays Annual Tribute
With Laughter, Tears,
and Wonder.

re"eplpcr critics paused on Tuesday
pay tribute to David Warfcld. The
-oVent OF new play, sufficient in it,
self 10 attract wide attention, was over
shadowed by the presence OF WarGeld
whose coming is q milestone in the
theatrical year. Last evening the people
Of Washington took occasion to confirm
This tribute by packing the Belasco
Theator fOT the urst performance this
week OF THE Music Master"
Thousands VIII sc during the rest OF
his brief engagement here. a rev to see
him for the first time. and many. many
more TO weep again and 10 laugh and
40 wonder again at Luc wonderful art
of this man who fs so different i'm his
methods from the great actors of today
and yet who. if public opinion is a cri-
terion, is one OF the greatest or them an.
And those few who had not seen him
before viii join the role OF WarhcId
Worshipers who yearly gather with an
almost religious devotion 10 nav honor
10 this man who rOr three hours holds
them iu the palm OF his hand and suavs
them as he Will
Secret Of Power.
More wonderful even than the art of
David Warfeld. ir the two can he sep
aratcd, is the power OF the man who
AT Warfelds hands dominates this
play It Is not done by the tricks
of elocuuon. IT is not even the art of
acting In the usual sense. 1t is not
lv @ loud voice and oyerwrouebt emo
jioH that he cows the man who has
Wronged his wife and ruined his own life.
Il is not 10y portraying the actions Of
..
though that We're arl-it goes deeurr.
living picture. not of the outward
t\flentes of feeling. bun of fCpfTnr 0r
n human soul itself: that is the art of
DaFiQ MaT1,eld as nearly as it can be
described And as You see him again
and again the wonder grows. Bv tne
iiiune Of au eyebrow he can make
on lauen5 by curve of the liD he
can bring tears, by fitting expression
.lE can ldg pare depth Ct feeling that
Is beyond words To- express The es-
aeHCe or naJuralueSs. the acme of sim
phrllE- not a studied word or glance.
seemingly no EFFORT Quieruess and "a
grace Ia which the actor ANA the stage
ana the people are lost and "a picture
looms up as iI from your own expert
snce- therein Is the secret or NNarffeId.
uut YOU must see WaFleId 10 grasp the
significance of the secret
Warfeld Stands Alone.
The Music Master is not remark
a-'-r tttr'F H.ft hll- OF inc Classics
of modern times. But it is not the
play that stirs. See WarHeid i'm
The Grand Army Man" or any
other role TT mattcrs little. All of the
power is there. The method is not
adopted 90 "The Music Master alone
tiiS must be q power that could make
any part stand out i'm CIcaT-cut COuCep-
ton for just what il is worth: even
those who have seen him in nothing
else could surmisC that III Wardeld
were 10 act Shakespeare his methods
would be just as different as would
those of another i'm the role of Anton
Won BarwIg. And it would be a pleas
ing fancy for an idle moment 20 con-
nejTe. Dr. YOU cam with what feeling ne
could enact such a role as SlE0ck
Any comment 0u the play itself is
sHrerfiuJus to a vast ma aiuTitv of thea
tergoers. To those who have not seen
'The Music Master it Would be far
from adequate Amy tribute 40 WAR
held must fall far short of expressing
aH that a writer would say OF this
great man. Most expressive OF any
homage that could be paid are the
smiles and the tears and the wonder
1f his hearers.