The Washington times., 1902-02-04
THE ColCMEiA+'rhe Auctieaeer,"
Charaeter-CemeSis by Ice Arthur and
Charles Klein


David Warheld's venture as star at the
Columbia Theatre last night. when a COM
plctely filled house gave the former de-
lineator OF the East Side Jew of the Web
er Fields and Casino companies a vel
come that was as genuine and deserved as
it was spontaneous. Out in the Hobbies
during the acts and after the final drop
expressed that Warfeld in The Auc-
tioneer' is the very best comedy Offering
a local audience has enjoyed during the
: present theatrical year.
The Auctioneer" is programmed as the
work Of Lee Arthur and Charles Klein but
throughout the entire performance the
skill of David Belasco. under whose direc-
tion Warfield is introduced, manifests it
felf in various little ways No Arthur or
Klein certainly is responsible for the
touches of pathos that are very effective
and bring out well developed gifts as an
actor that had not even been previously
suspected by persons familiar with the
work of the star.
There are several of these quiet little
episodes. The first occurs at the conclu-
sion of the opening act Warfield az Simon
Levi. dealer in secondhand wares. has
sold his auction store and invested his
money in a stock speculation, and is about
ready to move his family into fashion
able neighborhood. The shutters on the
auction shop are down and Levi sits in
reverie, gazing fondly at the room with
its familiar contents the place in which
the best moments of his life have been
spent. His wife comes downstairs and
calls him to dinner. Levi does not note
her presence until she touches him on the
shoulder and enquiries of what he is think
ing. He refers 10 the tine they began
life together, and there is brief passage
OF homely affection, and finally the wife
leaves the shop with Levi shambling after
her in silence. II is most effective ter
mination to the act, and recalls James A.
Herne at his best. Again, when the Lewis
are located in their fashionable home,
with a lot OF guests in an adjoining room.
the former auctioneer takes his wifes
face between his hands and asks il she is
happy. Why, of course, j am" she says,
and Levi, comically attired and uncon-
Portable looking in his newly acquired
evening clothes, responds affectionately,
and assures his life's partner that he
There are not enough of these passages
of pathos to weary the audience, but they
are so deftly introduced among wide
stretches of comedy-comedy at times
delicate, sometimes broad. but always
bright-that they round out The Auc-
tioneer" into one of the most complete
and agreeable dramatic compositions i'm
aginable. As a collection of excellent
character studies the play is notable.
There are a number of interesting per-
sonages pictured, including the daughter
of a Tammany politician; song and
dance artist. who, before his elevation in
art, was known as plain Mo Fininski, but
who was later known professionally as
Finnigan Callahan, Tammany brave,
and several other well-defned char
acters.
Warfeld makes Levi a sort of a Jew
ish David Harum. The fellow is lovable
End kind, although shrewd to a remark
able degree. guarding his own interests,
and especially in the opening scene OF
the play, with characteristic ingenuity.
The stars fame has hitherto rested
chiefly on his very faithful portraitures
of the small hated, bewhiskered Hebrew
in The Auctioneer" he retains the fa-
miliar makeup, but brings to the part an
ability as a comedian of the highest type
hat Immediately places him in the very
front rank of prominent players OF the pc
artistic plane, and never once during the
entire performance does II descend TO the
commonplace. Warfeld's Levi is as fin
ished a bit OF superior character draw
ing as is Jeffersons Rip Van Wrinkle
Besides Warfieid, Marie Bates comes in
for a large share of the praise OF the
audience She appears as the widow of a
Tammany politician, and acts with her
well-known skill. During her scenes with
Mr.. Warfeld Miss Bates is perhaps seen
at her very best. There are many other
capable players in The Auctioneer.
Eugene Garfield is amusing as Mo Finin-
ski; Maud Winter and Brandon lyman
are the young lovers, and right good
pair they are too; Maria Davis is ca
pable Mrs. Levi, and 0dell Williams an
excellent Callahan: Helena Phillips is
capital Mrs. Sampson. and Nellie Lynch.
Harry Rogers, William Boag, and II. S.
Millward are entirely satisfactory in
heir respective parts.