Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-13
DAVID WAKEFIELD
LIKES WILMINGTON
Noted Actor, Now at The Play
house, Comments on the
City's Activity.

That Wilmington always has warm
welcome for David Warfield is well known
to Wilmingtonians; but that this feeling
is rcciprocated by the actor may not he
so generally known. This was manifested,
however, IN chat with him just before
the performance of Peter Grimm" at
The Playhouse last evening.
IL miss a certain atmosphere Of earnest
endcavor, of big things being done IN a
big way, which impressed me on prevlons
visit during the war years" said Mr..
Warfield, but j note that the same
energy has taken on another outlet, as
evidenced by the numerous building
projects approaching completion along
your leading streets. This always seems
to ms an index of abundant vitality, and
| am glad to note it hore. .
The subject of building suggested n
query as to whether the stage setting OF
the Dutch florist ancestral home was
that used in the original production OF
the play in 1911 With his characteristic
smile of the eyes along with that Of the
lips, the uuostioner was assured that this
was the case,
The entire set went 30 the store
house after its run" MIR Wariicld said,
"and has simply been taken out and
busted off for this tour But this is far
from being the ordinary ilirpsy type Of
scenery it is mostly solid Wood; why,
II you were rooted over, one could live IN
IL. | almost wonder why II has not been
used to lessen the housing shortage some
where around New York, in the region
where the scene is laid
MIR Warfeld had not heard the rumor
regarding the possible revival Of "'Iho
Belle of New York, " IN which he had a
part when IL was produced nj the Casino
Theatre in New York during the nincties.
Mine was Just a character bit IN the
Belle, and Just like those | had in other
pieces about tho same time, was his
comment. "But ! always liked the
belle and would bc glad to see II brought
out again. To my taste some Of the music
is pleasing in almost the same way as
Sir Arthur Sullivan's, though, Of course,
he had tho unrivallcd books Of Gllbort TO
inspire hm les, indeed, | hope IL may
be taken up, and sec no reason why 1t
should not follow tho example Of Flora
dora and others Of the old favorites
They had merit, and deserve a new public;
and there arc some Of the original casts
still available, ! have no doubt,
In this connection IT is interesting 20
noto that half q dozen uf the present
company paying WIN MI. w htitha N'''
the orIglnators of the parts which they
still FIJI in tho present production,
Touching on the ever burning matter
Of newspaper criticisms Of PLAYS and
players. Mr. Warhcld evincc.d a tolerant
spirit which bospcaks hroadmInded and
philosophical view of the situation.
Il realize, he said, that outside OF
two or three Of tho large cities newspaper
publicity today Is largely commercial
The dramatic reporters are limited as 20
space, and often narrow IN their scope.
After all, however, perhaps tho matter IS
largely one Of the vanity Of tho actor, or
the producer, and Of the critics them
selves The public. after all, is The jury,
and from its decision there ~ no appeal,
It's taste. or lack Of IL. may be Informed,
but Il cannot he forced like tho Quccn
in Wonderland, IL says OF with his head,
though All Of its verdicts are not executed
any. more than were that cholcrlc por-
sonage s. Tho public Is acquiring an
education, however aud detects tbs lack
Of sincerity III. at any rate, the most potent
sorts Of forced publicity propaganda. and
figures them at pretty nearly their true
value camoulage
But another caller claIned the star ;
attention, and there the interview closed.