New-York tribune., 1910-02-14
BELASCO VS.. PUBLIC
TAKES Il FIRM STAND.
Vii Produce Other Plays Like
Just q Tifp"

peaFlHS at llidt tneatre. Mr.. BelaSco was
disappointed at the way IN which the play
had been received by the critics and the
first night audience. He was full OF the
new play, and he wanted to talk of moth
ing else.
Just come in here. won't vou?' he said.
and he showed the way into a small Office
at the side of the stage adjoining the
ISelasco box.
Let us talk quietly he said, Tor we
may disturb the occupants of the noS. 10
be frank with you, I am disappointed at
the way the critics and the first night auo1-
ence received the play. You see they en-
pected something different They expected
TO see play full Of climaHes ana slt"a-
tions, and they were disappointed.
The play is not a play of that kipd-lt
is a play OF dialogue, and it is play WIN
big theme-the idea that man may i've
a dual life. but a. woman must live but one.
1t is after the fashion Of the dramas that
are SO popular in Germany, where the pub
lie likes argument 1t aims to show the in
innate relations of men and women With
out any stage tricks. 1t is free from What
Mr. Walker calls punches
why, in three minutes rehearsal I could
change that play SO that there would be
twenty curtain calls at the end OF the sec
ond act. But 7 don't want TO do it GU
see when the other woman came TO MIS-.
Enerson's house the audience expected
Mrs. Emerson 70 spank her. But she
6idn't-she received her courteously, be-
cause she was her husbands guest.
MI Breese has to act one of the most
difficult parts ever played-for he has con-
stantly to restrain himself. And so 1t is
with Miss Walker. Her part is criticised
because she argues SO brilliantly and CAIN
". It must be remembered that the woman
whom she impersonates has lived SIX years
practically alone. and she has had time to
think.
AS TO JEWISH BOY
Then. as to the Jewish boy in the play
was sorry that the charm of the charac-
ter escaped the audience. Here you nave d
little bellhop despised by every one III the
hotel except a Christian boy Of GOOD 1a'n-
fly who hefriends him. They become fasI
friends and partners and invest their say
ines in lumber in the Northwest they
prosper and come East on the1r way ~
Europe The little Jew is just fun or COM
mon sense and he has that gltt or PoeuC
language which is so often sn attrloute ol
ignorant folk. I have met them so often
He is witty and bright and klnd' ana ile
advises his chun's sister in her despair
The beauty of this character seemed 70
ape the audience
And then. about the ending OF the play
il is criticised because il leaves one IL
doubt as to what happens. Ihat Is as i
should be-as it is in real llfe- Ihsre az
+ro sides TO the question, whether the man
and wife should forgive ana i've tose'li7i'
and it should be left open.
II have confidence in the play ana 1eei
sure that the people are going TO like II
.e+.- +re,, beconoe accustomed to II,
a. knock on the wall showed that Mr..
r7eIssco vas being heard in the nox. he
talked in whispers for a time, put soon hl9
voice assumed its ordinary tone Suodelly
a door swung open and an angry play soei
said, stop that talking.
The owner OF the theatre asked pafoou
and led the way to the back OF the stage
where the interview was continued on
box and a stool -
.yo1, see I have never been in a Pos1tloh
until now when | have been able 10 riSk q
large sum of money in the productloh OF
q NAV of this sort but can do it now
and [ am glad to do it; and. furthermore
7 will accept other plays OF a slrn'lar hiilu
if they are submitted TO me
Between the second and third acts Mr
teIasco showed the beauties of the Long
Island scene al IL p IN
DO YOU know" he said, 'T spent great
deal of time in getting that scene INTO
NV mind I took several trips TO the spot
for 1t is an actual point on Long Isiana
Sound / studied the shore and the bay,
and when I found n house that ! hked
walked ,Ip the drive and asked tho gar
dener if I might stay there for q while TO
study the scene.
sITe said: I will have to speak to the
owner He returned to say that Mr. -----
would like to sec me I introduced InyseIt,
and the gentleman invited me into his house
and asked me TO dine with linn. After DIN
ner we went out on the veranda, and
studied the Sound by moonlight. May |
stay until IL o'clock I asked.
And I got that wonderful mist which l
have reproduced in the play. I asked The
,,oune- women TO sir on the veranda at diff
ferent distances from the windows. 50 that
7 could see Just how far the lights from
within cast their rays. I measured THESE
distances and reproduced them in the stage
scene
HOW HE GETS EFFECTS.
When asked how he was able TO obtain
the misty light effects, Mr. Belasco said
..1-ha+ has been the study of a lifetime.
no YOU know I used to be able 10 see III
-he dark? | can't do that now, but L
can see some things that others can I see
cot these effects bT the use OF IgHtS-
T stand off at a distance and if ] don't
--a- the effect that / desire ! say to my
Won. Move that spot light little further
- the left or right give US a little more
hin. or red And by a proper mixture of
Love 7 secure the end desired. | nave
,tiete come hero to criticIse my scene
,,eintirgs-for that is what they are-and
tbe,. tell me that they cannot be improved.
This might have sounded egotistical COM
;,e from another, but MI Belasco did not
-i.o that impression. for he IS a modest
man.
Then he showed A beautiful inlald ma
boranv working table of unique design.
tIa lifted the lid and in the compartment
,bora were stationery, a pair Of scissors,
tsu Of twina and all the things that ii
woman might keep in such . piece OF
furniture.
.syyhv where is the stamp| sald MI
Relasco Il put one in here. Somebody
must have taken it.
.'You sec / use these things not only TO
create an Illusion for the audience, but Tor
the actors This particular desk is not III
view of the audience. and the only time
that il IS used is when Miss Walker lifts
tho Id as she enters in the second act.
Then she halts, turns on her heel and
walks out.
..The day when any old thing may be
used as stage property is over. buy an
tIoue furniture wherever l go for use III
l. f