New-York tribune., 1921-10-23
Interesting Chat and Stage Gossip for Playgoer
w Warfield Will
! Play Slnylock
Next Season
Once Declined $l, 900. 600
Offer From a Picture Pro-
ducer; Likes Old Plays

critics--havs often paused Co ask why
David Wsrfieid has been content to
play but few roles. arguing chat his
influence In the American theGter
might have been substantially greater
had he employed his extraordinary
talents in the creation OF many parts.
In making such comment in regard to
the career of the actor they have in
mind only his activities since be be-
came 3 star and started under Belasco
management the great series Of plays
that began back in 1901 with "The
Auctioneer." led to "The Music
Master" then 10 "a Grand Army Man"
TO "The Return of Peter Grimm" and
TO "The Merchant of Venice" which Is
coming next year. Those who have
found the Wsrheld parts and the War
field plays far too few in number have
based their views entirely upon the
actors work during the last twenty
years, without considering the vast
number of parts that he did play when,
with his gift of dialect, his greasy
Hack frock coat and his black derby
RULED down TO his ears, he haunted the
r'usic halls and the burlesque theatrs
Mr. Warfield, in his dressing room at
The Belasco Theater the other day.
paused to explain just why his parts
have been limited; just why Simon
Levi, Herr Anton Won Barwig, Wes
Bigelow and Peter Grimm. all good
fellows, have been his sole associates
during twenty years on the stage.
The reason he gives for having stuck
TO limited number Of parts is just
this: His plays have been successes,
lis parts have been real human per-
sons and the theatergoing public has
refused to allow him TO drop Won
barwig, or Levi. or Peter Grimm In
einging to the old favorites it hasn't
been case of being afraid to risk new
parts.
Thinks the Old
Plays Good Enough
Why cast aside good thing for the
sake Of doing something news?" de-
nianded the actor, thoroughly warmed
UP to the subject. "Wh at the end
of eight months or year throw over
? great play and great part and say,
I've had enough of this; want some
thing else-something newT Why do
that7 Why take the works of the mas
ters out of the museum just to replace
them with things that are new bit are
not as fine? Why change the name of
Main Street and make it Blue Street?
There Is no reason at all. Back In
the old days I did many parts. But in
late years my plays have been sue
cesses, and they've been plays that the
pubic wanted. It would have been
rssless-foolish--to cast them aside.
The parts have been human, and you
can ask nothing more of & role.
haven't stuck to few parts and few
plays because l was afraid to risk
something else-that hasn't been the
question. ! get as much enjoyment
playing one really fine part over and
over sgsin as I would in creating n
dozen new parts.
"I'm doirg wnat want to do and
what believe the public would have
r1e do. have remained out of motion
pictures because | wanted to stay out,
and this in spite Of the fact that was
offered S. 900 900 to do one picture.
Tha4 3,,S
going ON acting. There isn't that much
rnonev In the game. | don't think
will ever GO to the screen"
Mr.. Warfieid, In illustrating the
point that the public has never tired
Of the plays he has been given, called
attention to the fact that "The Return
of Peter Grimm" now at the Belasco
revived after ten years, is playing to
capacity at every performance. The
rtle Of the Dutch tulip grower is one
that the actor feels ne could go or
playing for years and years, eli ths
time uneonsciously adding in some de
tall TO the performance, all the tim,
finding something about the character
Shob u<sSA OSAOtt ue'u bSSA ItVCaISt
TO him.
How Part Grows
With Each Performance
But no matter how long Peter Grimm
and his Willem and his Kathrein Nigh
be able to fill theater seats, the pla,
Is going TO be cast aside next year
Mr.. Wsrfield, under Belasco direction
will attempt what many consider tn
most amb tious undertaking of hi
long career--Shylock. 1t will be hi
first appearance in any Shakespeareal
play.
"It's certain now" he eaid, 'that II
DO The Merchant Of Venice next yea,
and fully realize that man Il
tackiing the classics is taking On gre a
responsibility. There have been grea
Shylocks IN other years-Edwin Boot
was and so was Henry Irving. In at
tempting Shylcck am fully aware tina
nay first performance is going TO b
compared with some great actors las
performance In the role--a perform
ance that was undoubtedly thing 0
grace and beauty. A part grows ant
grows and grows on the actor--it i
impossible to give 3 great performance