The Return of Peter Grimm | Page 7

its simplicity.
This was the triumph of Warfield's interpretation. It may have been
difficult to attain the desired effects, but once reached, technical skill
did the rest. It will be noted on the program that credit is given for an
idea to Mr. Cecil DeMille, son of Mr. Belasco's former collaborator.
"The Return of Peter Grimm" was scheduled for production in London
by Sir Herbert Tree, but plans were cut short by that actor's sudden
death, July 2, 1917.
Mr. Belasco's interest in the psychic and the supernatural has been seen
in other plays, notably in "The Case of Becky," by Edward Locke, and
in Henry Bernstein's "The Secret"--example of Belasco's most skilled
adaptation from the French, though we remember the excellence of his

version of Berton and Simon's "Zaza." That he thought Warfield
admirably suited to this type of play was one of the chief incentives
which prompted him to write "Van Der Decken" (produced on the road,
December 12, 1915), a play whose theme is "The Flying
Dutchman"--and not thus far given in New York.[A]
[Footnote A: Some of Mr. Belasco's recent opinions regarding the stage
have been published in book form, under the title, "The Theatre
through its Stage Door" (Harper).]
[Illustration: BELASCO THEATRE
FORTY FOURTH STREET near BROADWAY Under the Sole
Management of DAVID BELASCO
BEGINNING TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 17, 1911. Matinees
Thursday and Saturday.
DAVID BELASCO Presents DAVID WARFIELD -IN- THE
RETURN OF PETER GRIMM
A PLAY, IN THREE ACTS.
By DAVID BELASCO.
"Only one thing really counts--only one thing--love. It is the only thing
that tells in the long run; nothing else endures to the end."
CAST OF CHARACTERS.
PETER GRIMM..................................DAVID WARFIELD
FREDERIK, his nephew.........................JOHN SAINPOLIS JAMES
HARTMAN................................THOMAS MEIGHAN ANDREW
MacPHERSON............................JOSEPH BRENNAN REV. HENRY
BATHOLOMMEY.........................WILLIAM BOAG COLONEL
TOM LAWTON...........................JOHN F. WEBBER
WILLEM.........................................PERCY HELTON
KATHRIEN.......................................JANET DUNBAR MRS.

BATHOLOMMEY................................MARIE BATES
MARTA.......................................MARIE REICHARDT THE
CLOWN........................................TONY BEVAN
PROGRAM CONTINUED ON SECOND PAGE FOLLOWING
* * * * *
PROGRAM CONTINUED.
SYNOPSIS.
The scene of the play is laid in the living room of Peter Grimm's home
at Grimm Manor, a small town in New York State, founded by early
settlers from Holland.
The first act takes place at eleven o'clock in the morning, on a fine
spring day.
The second act passes ten days later, towards the close of a rainy
afternoon.
The third act takes place at twenty minutes to twelve on the same night.
PROGRAM CONTINUED ON SECOND PAGE FOLLOWING
* * * * *
PROGRAM CONTINUED.
NOTE--Mr. Belasco does not intend to advance any theory as to the
probability of the return of the main character of this play. For the
many, it may be said that he could exist only in the minds of the
characters grouped about him--in their subconscious memories. For the
few, his presence will embody the theory of the survival of persistent
personal energy. This character has, so far as possible, been treated to
accord with either thought. The initial idea of the play was first
suggested as a dramatic possibility by Mr. Cecil DeMille, to whom Mr.
Belasco acknowledges his indebtedness. A conversation with Professor

James, of Harvard, and the works of Professor Hyslop of the American
branch of the London Society of Psychical Research have also aided
Mr. Belasco.
The play produced under the personal supervision of Mr. Belasco.
Stage Director....................................William J. Dean
Stage Manager........................................William Boag
Scene by Ernest Gros.
Scenery built by Charles J. Canon
Electrical effects by Louis Hartman.]

THE RETURN OF PETER GRIMM
A PLAY IN THREE ACTS
By DAVID BELASCO
1915
[The Editor wishes to thank Mr. David Belasco for his courtesy in
granting permission to include "The Return of Peter Grimm" in the
present Collection. All its rights are fully secured, and proceedings will
immediately be taken against any one attempting to infringe them.]
ACT I.
The scene shows a comfortable living-room in an old house. The
furniture was brought to America by PETER GRIMM'S ancestors. The
GRIMMS were, for the most part, frugal people, but two or three fine
paintings have been inherited by PETER.
A small, old-fashioned piano stands near the open window, a few
comfortable chairs, a desk with a hanging lamp above it, and an

arm-chair in front of it, a quaint old fireplace, a Dutch wall clock with
weights, a sofa, a hat-rack, and mahogany flower-pot holders, are set
about the room; but the most treasured possession is a large family
Bible lying on a table. A door leads to a small office occupied by
PETER'S secretary.
Stairs lead to the sleeping-rooms above. Through the window,
hothouses, beds of tulips, and other flowers, shrubs and trees are seen.
"Peter Grimm's Botanic Gardens" supply seeds, plants, shrubbery and
trees to the wholesale, as well as retail trade, and the view suggests the
importance of the industry. An old Dutch windmill, erected by