Theater: Exit a Character

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Of the hundreds of characters which Producer David Belasco created and presented during his more than 50 years in the U. S. theatre, the greatest by far was David Belasco. For all the time that he was bringing new realities to the stage— placing live roses at the heroine's bed, using real antiques for historical settings— he was busy fictionizing himself. When he died in Manhattan last week, debilitated by a severe attack of pneumonia in November, his last words were: "Doctor, I am fighting for my life." So well had Producer...