The Washington times., 1917-04-19
WAKEFIELD HAS LIFE
, IN MUSIC MASTER"
Enjoys the Role as Much as
the People "out
In Front"
ny FLORENCE YoDER-

David wGrfisld enjoys playing the
role of Herr Won Barwig in "The
Music Master" just as much, every
time he plays, as do the people "out
In front"
That explains why this years per-
formancs of "The Music Master" is
exactly as excellent as. 1t was when
Mr.. warfield appeared here in the
role eight years ago. 1t also explains
In part why the four weeks run plan
ned for New York this season trailed
out into twenty weeks, with a tour
planned for Eastern cities this year,
and another for the middle Western
cities next year.
But there is no use trying to ac-'
count entirely for the success Of my
play" Mr.. Warfield said yesterday
at has something in it that people
love. It appeals to them more strong
ly shan anything else I could do.
love playing 1t. They want me to
play 1t, for they have asked me. So
why shouldn't I? Why should take
q new play-do you seer"
The interviewer saw that, and more
) too.
But It was hard to say the rest in
words. It isn't considered exactly
conventional for a young woman to
tell q man that he is lovable. After
grave consideration in which q great
effort was made to summon enough
nerve to say It, the opportunity was
RapanQA II Ia
said here.
Same On and Off Stage.
Stage personalities are not always
nice to interview. They sometimes
charm ineffably on the stage, but
off stage. they creak.
But David warfield IL fundamental
iy like Herr Won Barwig, and Herr
Won BarwiE made everybody love him
IN the play, and approximately 3,OOO'-
900 out of the play, so-there you are
interviewing Mr.. warfleld isn't like
anything else In the world He does
not measure mp TO q single one OF the
standards set by other artists. Fist
OF all he greets you as you might ex.
pect Herr Won Barwig to greet you II
you were Jennie, or Miss Houston or
his daughter. He makes you feel I'M
mediately that you are the most at
tractiVe, and clever, and fascinating
creature in the whole universe.
He escorts you to q quiet nook,
where, oblivious OF every one else In
the hotel lobby, he talks to you con-
csrnIng anything and everything.
Once In q great while, he say4 But
I wouldn't WANT. wouldn't WANT
you to print that" and then he smiles
and looks at you just as Herr Won
Barwig might. As result, the poor
reporter sears the brain mentally.
with q burning oath that the boss
himself with a ladleful of hot lead
ready to cast upon her II she refused.
wouldn't, couldn't make her tell!
No, he doesn't naturally speak with
Q German accent
Makeup II Slight.
The only makeup Mr.. Warheld uses
Cbesides perhaps a touch of a pencil
here and there) In "The Music Mas
ter" a. far as the interviewer could
tell, is that he lets his sideburns grow.
A pair of thin horn-rimmed spec
tacles, with gold hooks over the ears.
together with a light gray suit,
small blue bow tie, and q cigar: are
the only disguises Won Barwig as
Sumes when playing the role Of David
warneld.
You can take either description you
wish.
It was natural that we began TO
talk about the play itself. Mr.. War
field was particularly anxious to know
how the cast had pleased, and was
overjoyed to know that everyone
thought very highly OF the work Of
Helen weer IN the role OF Jenny.
That's a remarkable child" he said.
"a remarkable young girl. She has
ambition, the right kind. She will
make something Of herself. This Is
her FIRST year on the stage"
Miss Weer really does deserve
credit, for she resisted the dollar sign
in the shape OF the pictures, and
sought rather the legitimate stage
where she would have what she
thought to be greater dramatic oppor-
tunities.
whom They Really Love.
Then the remainder Of the cast came
up for discussion We bemoaned the
lack Of original material. both on the
stage and in pictures. We spoke OF the
depravity Of modern art and one-act |
plays, and Mr.. warheld. spirited ex-
ponent Of the Belasco school that he is. |
roundly baSted the one-act-amateur-pro- |
fessional-modern-playe
THE trouble is that they cannot learn |
that some plays belong in lIbraries-and |
nowhere else!" he said. From libraries |
we hed to the pictures, and had a glori- |
Gus time telling one another o. Henry |
stories that he hadn't read. Mr.. War
field does not think that the o. Henry |
stories can be successfully picturized.
They'll never get the same touch,
thrill. workmanship. I consider o. Hen
ry's short stories better than Du Mau-
PEASANTS. Do you remember the one |
about" and he told the story which |
ends with the hero swimming out to
sea to recapture the bottle he had flung
away earlier. and which contained
letter from his sweetheart, whom he
was trying TO forget
At last we came back to the original
topic, The Music Master" Mr.. War
field shook his head, II love 90 to play