Messsage passing problem

HI there! just registered hope you are well!

I have a movieclip that acts as a check box which has the below code attahced to it:

onClipEvent (mousedown)
{

if(this.hitTest(_root._xmouse, _root._ymouse, true)){
if(_currentFrame == 1){

_root.art1 = _root.ritis;

gotoAndPlay (2);

}else {

gotoAndPlay (1);

_root.art1 = “”;

}
}
}

the idea is to pass the value of art1 into a textfield placed in the root timeline namely _root.textfield.field2 thus each time the movieclip holding the above code is pressed. the textfield is embedded in a movieclip with the instance name “texfield”. in the main timeline frame i have the following code:

_root.textfield.field2 = _root.textfield.filed2 add _root.art1;

When I test the movie and I view the variables _root.art1 does change its value but the _root.textfield.filed2 does not show the changes as its value does not change. how can I solve this?
thanks in advance!!