The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-10
a GREAT ARTIST REVIvEs
HI& INIH CT, L, MOL Z


Even though the memory of The
Music Master and it's aching pathos
is as fresh-and as fragrant-to-day
as it was 1--WE years ago. think no
one can fully. appreciate the great art
of David Warfeld unless he has seen
him in The .:Auctioneer." For The
made it. was innateiy appealing; the
mere idea of the old German musician,
himself an artist. broken. poor. BUNDLED
and robbed of his daughter. while even
things" was denied him, sounded a
minor. saddened chord In word.
the play was set in key of subdued
tenderness. and the actor had only to
attune himself to 1t. True, the task
was beyond possibly any actor in
America, certainly; except War5eld,
him.
In THE Auctioneer," however, 1t is
the sheer. art of David Warfield that
with. .plainiiys.. moving -aualities. and
that transforms the person OF the
shambiing.,. shrewd dealer In second
hand goods into figure OF pitiful
of the hundred view such n character.
IT contains-without the art that
changes it-oniy traits 10 condemn. TO
plays 1t, 1t Is still a laughable thing.
but beneath the laughter that ii
evokes there is. almost at the surface
sympathy, pity and even respectful
admiration.
1t is no caricature. this Simon Levi
there is not an accent, a gesture, a
human. Nor is it an idealization; there
is not movement, not tone, not a
touch. that does not belong to the
characterization, is not very part of
And the perfection with which David
Wariield has created the being OF Simon
Lev! works literally wonderful things.
edly. at some bit of sharp practice that
marks the dealing of the man accus-
toned to trade with others as sharp as
sense of superiority, at the Ignorance
of the foreigner who has but lately
peddled his little wares on the streets.
but at either moment his laugh may BIO
hushed and his cHucIlle may catch in
his throat as tho mans kindly. lovable
nature Is disclosed IN. some quantity
worded phrase. or as he tragedy that
has fallen upon him is recalled by
some marVelously wrought expression
that flashes across the face of the
artist.
And it is this rare blending of the
humorous and the pathetic that makes
David Wartield's creation OF Simon Levi
so fine a thing. For example: he tries
cents: it will not work; he explains
that 1t is just like a regular automo-
bile. and the audience roars. But the
the toy, has no smaller money than n
five dollar bill. He cannot make the
change and loses the sale. and in an
instant II Is no longer amusing, but n
little tragedy, and the house is silent.
So David Warfeld makes Simon Levi
figure of fun. and makes him a living
person. whose misfortunes and sorrows
are real and very pitiful. and in the
creation he gives a performance that
is indeed a lesson In the art of acting
inadequate as the expression Is.
The rest of the company. with the
execution of one woman. who was not
at all easy in her part, is good enough
and, of course. David Belasco has pro-
vided perfect production. but none
of that really matters. David Warfield
is Simon Levi. and Simon Levi is "The
Auctioneer."
There will be two more opportunities
actor of the generatiom'in his revival
of the play In which he first won fame
and in which, II may be said, he gives
the most convincing evidence OF his
art-if not his genius.
Douglas Gordon.