The Washington times., 1914-03-03
q DAILY MAGAZINE PAGES FOR EXE]
'AuCtiOneer'
Revival a
Hit

About a month ago the dramatic writ
er for one of the big news associations.
in his weekly letter regarding thlrgs
theatrical in New York, began his piece
with the following outburst:
That the 1911 dramatic season is 4
really truly strenuous one and that the
walls emitted by the managerial offices
around Fortyseconi street are not
merely the usual cries of wolf is at
tested by the great number of revivaIs
marking the month of February. New
productions now are at eOb and il Is
an undeniable fact that the present
season has failed to produce an ade-
Quate supply Of new plays worth willie
There is no reason TO doubt that
what he said was true. 1t is equally
true that il all the New York pTodu-
cling managers can do one-half as well
in their selection of pieces for revival
in The metropolis and the provinces
and provide as welcome stars and ade-
quate companies as did David Belasco
when he decided to send forth DaViG
Warfield in The Auctioneer," the pub
lie will forgive the producers for past
sins. and will, on the whole, be rather
glad that the army VI authors was
SO lacking in ideas as to fail to furnish
that much bewaLed adequate supply
OF plays worth while"
Crowded House Despite Weather.
Mr. Warfield came to the National
Theater last night with the play which
was his first stepping stone from the
music hall to legitimate stardom. and
the big wind which was breaking
windows and tying up traffic failed to
keep his friends and admirers from
crowdins. the theate". That they were
determined 70 welcome him despite con-
ditions and that SOME of them had a
hard time gettiDS there was proved
by the lateneSs of the hour at which
the house was finally seated. Hut they
all got there eventually. and the even
ings entertainment was we'll worth all
the trouble and Inconvenience one may
have undergone to be among those
present
OF course the big reception was for
Warfieid. but the work of every MEM
Der of the large company was warmly
commended. too. In this connection II
is particularly pleasing to be able to
note that in the years which have
elapsed since Mr.. Warfield graduated
from broad comedy Hebrews. largely
distinguished by the fact that they
wore their hats over their ears and
began or ended almost every speech
with .'Oi, Oh" he has never reached
that too common stellar frame OF
mind which brings before the public
inadequate and incompetent companies
either to save money or prevent dim
ming the glow of the spot light which
Is too often called upon to augment
the natural light of the star.
One might say that the present or
ganization supporting Mr. Warfield is
the climax of proof of this attitude on
his part. In the flrst place, II is a far
better company than he had when
TIE Auctioneer'' had its premiere 2
dozen years ago. There is not a single
hint of iDcompetency to mar the effect
of his own work. and any of those
critics who have asserted that il is a
mistake for producers to hunt types
for their productions and turn down
all comers until they find them. are
warmly recommended to see this re-
vival just as soon AS it reaches their
fair city. If they don't change their
mind il will be because they have very
little mind to change
True As To Types.
As there is no single mint of in
competency in the company. so there
IS not a single false drawing of a fig
ure to hurt the picture. The question
"f type is solved perfectly from
Marie Bates as Mrs. Eagan. the Irish
friend Of the Hebrew second -hanS
man. to the Man from Hester
street" who dashes on and off the
stage q couple of times. perhaps. In
fact. the bit parts are so well Sc
lected that one hardly notices what
Ihey do or when they do it except 10
ea'lizc that they mt III the picture
Perfectly.
OF this supporting company there are
several VINO are worthy OF special men
lion. Harry Leweilyn as the brother of
the acuCtiOneer, the nearest approach
TO vii ain which the play allows, was
Exceedingly good in a straight heavy
part. of the type roles. Harry Rogers
q Meyer Cohen, who buys me a busi-
ness in Hester street. and Frank Mel
son as Mo Fininski, the auctioneer's
clerk, and afterward near-headliner i'll
vaudeville, stood out strongly.
Of the women. in addition TO Miss
Bates, there were two particularly con-
yincng. Mrs Jennie Moscowitz as Mrs.
levi. wife OF the auctioneer. and Helena
Phillips, as the disagreeab,e wife Of
the wicked brother"
The play is staged with all Mr.. Be
lasco'S customary. attention to details,
big and lite. Let's have some more Of
such revivals.