The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-06
ADJUSTMENTS
David Warfed In "The Auctioneer" at
the MetropoJItan.

the Metropolitan.
Several years ago New York sudden
ly discovered that an entirely new type
OF character had been added to the gal
lery of stage portraits by comedian
hitherto unknown. In an unpretentious
little vaudeville sketch David Warf1eld
had successfully transplanted to the stage
from Gotham's Ghetto the small and
thrifty Hebrew merchant, who plods along
devious ways in the effort to make a
living and sometimes a fortune. AL
though stress was naturally laid Lon the
comedy side of the Scharacter, the por-
trait was recognized las in the main true
to life, and it appealed to New Workers
with special force. With popularity came
the demand for q, play in which Mr.. War
field should have greater opportunity to
develop the character. 1.-THE Auctioneer,"
written by Lee Arthur and Charles Klein,
was the. result The play and the actor,
after delighting New York audiences. are
now, touring the provinces giving us
glimpses of the life and the people in
the lower strata Of the life of the metrop-
oils as real as they are strange and I'M
familiar.
A play thus. written to fit Ia character
could scarcely fail to be lacking in co
herence and in action. "Tle Auctioneer"
IS simply and frankly a comedy Of char
acter and manners and is almost devoid
of incident Attention is thus focused
on the quaint little figure of the Hebrew
an representation as remarkable in its
way as Sol Smith Russel's Noah. Vale
or Gus Heege's Yon Yonson. The good
and the bad sides of Simon Levi are
shown with impartiality. The bad ones
appear first and are somewhat carica-
tured for comedys sake, while the good
ones shine forth more brightly as the
story unfolds The Hester street mer-
chant has methods of selling his goods,
not strictly defensible, but revealing deep
knowledge of human nature. And the
comedy thereof is simply irresistible. His
love for his family-a characteristic Jew
1sh trait-makes any sacrifice seem easy.
Indeed, the contrasts between the do
nestle and the commercial sides Of his
character are the most effective touches
in the representation.
Mr.. Warf1eld's portrait is thus drawn
con .amore. While, he. has not hesitated
to show the sordid side of the character,
he has done the lower-class Hebrews a
service by taking US into their real life
and showing. their admira BILE traits that
are not: sos well KNOWN. Not unnaturally
there are Some touches in this picture
OF life sthatsss seem vulgar such for in
stance as the. debate aver the sex and
picture would not suffer if these were
eliminated. But, taken by and large, it
is a characterization of great merit, be-
tokening not only powers Of close OBJ
servation and telling mimicry, but the
possession&zef that just Sense of proper
ton SO essentiafSto a. character: comedian.
There are several other excellent char
acter bits in the play NOTABLY the. we'll
to-do3 Irish widow Of Marie Bates which
In spite Of its hacKneye lines, is a rich
~ humorous piece Of work A capitally
good thing. too, is the ward boss por-
trayed by Robert Fischer, a familiar type
In city political life. Eugene Garfield,
who first won famessas the irrepresslble
boy in "A fMidnight#Bell,' shows a sim
liar streak Of ''cussedness' in the role OF
Slmon's clerk, a#folaein which his pecu-
llar talents shine brightly. Maria Davis
without saying a word the whole even
ing, contr1ves to give a clear impression
OF the domestic virtues of Simon's wife
Among the other roles there is none OF
special merit, unless it be Harry Rogers
effective impersonation of Simon's broth
en- in law. 81
|. The piece is staged with characteristic
Belasco originality and care The scenes
IN the old auction store and in the saudy
new house Simon has bought for his
children, the passing: show in front of the
department. store and the humble little
nome Where the denouement takes place.
are artfully handled so as to create and
retain the Illusion sought for
-. - 49, w. b. Chamherl,;,