Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-27
BY Frederic j. Haskin.

New York City.--One of the most not
able features of this years theatrical
| season. now drawing to close, mas
been the revival of masks upon thc-
stage. The season has been an eNcep-
tional one, containing many surprises
and thrills, hut nothing more sonsa-
tional than the moment when the
American dancer Margaret, Severn
paused in the midst of the Greenwich
Village F'ollies and took off her face
a beautiful, painted face that had
seemed unquestionably to belong TO
her. After that, tho audience was pre-
pared for anything, and Miss Severn
did not disappoint it. She put on and
took off a whole series of convincing
! faces.
The new masks are the work of the
we'll known artist, w. T. Benda. They
have nothing in common with the kind
affected by highwaymcn. nor yet those
worn by department store santa
Clauses. but draw their Inspiration
from the carly days of the race when
the mask was an important factor IN
I the religious ritual. II is to he as
/ sumed that the race has forgotten
/ those weird, ancient ceremonies. GER
I tainly, the twentieth century is far
cry from the days when mon danced
around the temples of heather gods,
disguised in the grotesque masks of
secret religious societies. Yet the new
Benda masks arouse curious thrill
as of something strange and yet fa-
| milar.
To John Murray Anderson belongs
the distinction of bringing back TO the
stage this oldest of dramatic features.
! Anderson is a member of that group
of theater radicals. led by Rhipehardt
and Gordon Craig, who have rcbelled
against the Photographic realism OF
tho present-day theater and are going
| back TO the primitive for their inspir-
| alton. He first saw tho Benda masks
when they We're worn by Margaret Sew
crn in "A pautomime produced last
spring at the New York Coffee House
club. He was Immediately impressed
with their great artistic value. and
decided that the follies should feature
them.
Mr.. Bcnda's part in the revival of
| the mask. while important. was purely
accidental
Il was forced at tho last moment
to make paper mask to wcnr to a
masquerade ball" he explained when
questioned concerning his discovery.
1T served well and for days lay around
my studio. Then | thought of pre-
serving 1t in more permanent form. and
began fashioning II out OF cardboard
The work had II strange fascination.
which grow until mask making became
sort OF hobby with me. A thousand
dollars would not cover the cost OF
time, study. skin and labor | putt into
each mask. But theirs is an hypnotic
charm. as the early Greeks discovered.
Mn.k-NakInE m Art
As may bo imagined from this OK
ly.f1 sta.., y. - ~. A. IL
IL real work or art. Tho artist spends
weeks In fashioninE one head of card
board and paper, often lining the In
terror with gold Leaf and carefully
painting the exterior. First, he makes
a sketch OF the face on cardboard. Then
he cuts out the features and adjusts
them. rounding tho checks, nllIng out
depression with bits OF paper. and
building up his effects like sculptor
with clay. Tho result is a face which
when ready for painting. looks much
Ike "A human face after emerging from
major plastic operation. There is
usually n small slit for tho eyes. which
are painted on In the most realistic
fashion. Small strips OF paper. painted
dark brown, form the cyclashcs. The
nostrils are well slit. also. to permit
breathing. but the mouths arc closed.
Hair is painted on or built up by means
OF painted paper.
II have recently hecn experimenting
with masks from living models" says
Mr.. Bends From careful drawing OF
the models fscc ! cut out tho profile
and ht II To the face. nllinG out the
discrepancies with bits OF paper until
all is rounded to the contour of the
ortEinal-in short. perfect mt II is
delicate, tedious work When the
whole mask is feature proof. l paint
II rs would "A portrait painter"
Mr.. Bcnda's studio In Gramcrcy park
contains dozens Of masks. each ono
OF which is n distinct masterpiece of
Its kind IL was from this collection.
representing three years work that
Mr.. Anderson selected the mask for
Miss severn to wear in tho FolllrS-
tho oriental Princess. the Queen with