Evening journal., 1922-11-06
WAKEFIELD HERE
With STAR CAST
Belasco's Merchant of Ven.
ice Company Begins
Final Rehearsal
147 TO PRESENT
CLASSICAL PLAY

Wilmington will occupy a prom
inent position in stagedom this
week, owing to the rehearsals Of the
David Belasco production of THE
Merchant OF Venice" which will
make its premier at The Playhouse
on next Friday night. The selec-
ton Of this city as the settings for
the final rehearsal OF the mammoth
production with David Wariield as
"Shylock' means much to VIII
mington and for the first time in
it's history, the city viii be the scene
of a production that will leave more
money than il will take away The
company OF 147 with four car loads
of scenery. arrived yesterday and
at once began preparing for the final
rehearsals today. Many persons
who saw the company and equip
ment arrive thought II a circus rath-
er than a theatrical company.
It will cost $4,000 TO stage the
final rehearsals here this week. Mr..
Belasco and Mr.. Warfield are in the
party After its presentation here
the production will be staged at the
Llceum Theatre, New York. To ac-
commodate the production at The
Playhouse, a number OF interior
changes have been made necessary,
including the removal of the first
two rows of orchestra seats TO make
room for the 29-piece orchestra.
Many temporary changes have also
been made on the stage to make
room for the special scenery to be
used. Owing TO the limited space
in the Playhouse II was necessary
to store much of the scenery in the
driveway in the rear Of the theatre
last night. The weather was such,
that no damage was done. but II
rain had fallen during the night. the
damage would have amounted to
thousands of dollars.
Perhaps there's a reason for the /
selection of Wilmington as the pre-
mier city for the production-that
Is. more subtle reason than some /
obvious consideration OF conven-
fence. economy. or the availability
OF such a well-equipped theatre as
the Playhouse.
lasco's plays, very little has been
given out IN advance regarding The
Merchant OF Venice" II is the policy b
of the producer to allow the public
to form its own opinion and not to
herald an opening with the fanfare
of trumpets so usua; among man
ayers. Hence. details which would be
Of interest, are absent
The supporting cast with Mr.. Z
Warfeld is TO include Philip Merl-
vale as Bassanio; A. r. Arson as
Duke OF Venice: lam MacLaren as
Antonio; Waiter Percival as Graf
lano; Herbert Grimwood as Prince Of
Morocco; Albert Bruning as Tubal;
Horace Braham as Lorenzo; Regin-
aid Goods as Solanio; Herbert Ran
son as Salarlno; Fuller Meliish as
Old Gobbo; Charles Harbury as
Balthazar; p. Vivian as Laucelot
Gobbo; Morris StrassberlS as Chus;
Edward H. Weaver as stephano; Ed
ward Crandall as Leonardo; Ward
de Wolfe as Jester; Nick Long as
Clerk of the Court; II. Brown as a
Ducal Messenger; Miss Mary Survoss
in the role Of Portia; Miss Mary
Ellis, Nerissa; Mrs. Julia Adler
Jessica.
When the news Of the opening OF
The Merchant OF Venice" first be-
gan TO get around. one old IN the
technique OF the stage remarked.
Il suppose Belasco VIII have real
water IN the Venetian canals" He
was Joking, OF course. but his com {
rnent, TO the uninitiate. can be taken
as cue to typical Belasco produc- /
lions. More than any other manager. d
Mr.. Belasco has gone into detail, 6
into realism to the nth power in his
stagecraft. The small things receive
at his hands a degree OF attention J
that II astonishing. Il has been :
limited that agents secured Europe
this summer for properties for the
present production. In any event. Mr.. .
may be counted upon TO y
Nave no stone unturned to put on
the most elaborate Shakespearean =
producion that hat yet been staged. :.
He naturally does things the Belasco
way which is never by halves.
The settings for the production
were designed by Ernest eros and
we're executed under his supervision. =
Norman O'Neiil. OF London, COM
posed the incidental music. The cos ,
tunes were designed by Percy Nc \
Quoid. and the period art was
supervised by Elmer f. Tafinger +
Old playgoers will recall many ]
productions OF THE Merchant OF ]
Venice" notably that by Henry Irv-
ing and Ellen Terry, many years ]
ago. There have been many, many S
Shylocks. from McCready to the so ]
norous Mantegl-some good and J
some bad. It will lie interesting to
see a warfield shylock. and. more
Interesting still. TO see a Belasco
production OF Shakespeare.
49, ] I