New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-07

BY HAYWOOD BROUN

BY HAYWOOD BROUN
"The Bargain" which was produced
at the Comedy Theatre last night. con-
tains some good dramatic material. 1t
must be good, because It has been used
so often. Herman Schefauer does not
justify his use of the old themes. for
he combines them unskilfully. His Is,
we think, cheap and shoddy bargain.
What else can be said of plot in
which the boy who ruins the daughter
of the kindly pawnbroker happens to
be the son of the hard hearted stock
broker whom the pawnbroker's son has
robbed? That, we thought, was an ex-
cessive concentration OF crime.
There are sincere bits and dramatic
bits in the play, but here at least the
relationship is distant. Perhaps the
author had nothing but the most sin
cere intentions throughout, although we
must confess that some Of his senti-
mentality seemed ever so false; but, in
any case, he lacked technical skill to
convince the audience of his honesty of
purpose. The play is crowded with
those mistakes which the books say the
dramatist ought not to make. Ii begins
to sin in chapters one and two, and II
there be preface TO this book Of
theatrical technique. the play violates
the advice of that as well.
No audience likes to be led down a
blind alley. Mr.. Scheffauer does just
that. His first act is interesting and
very competent beginning for play,
but not the play which was put on the
stage of the Comedy last night. The
first act deals almost entirely with the
dramatic aspirations ot Sarah Lusskln,
wife of old Lusskin, the pawnbroker.
and the curtain comes Immediately
after a very effective scene, in which
Sarah declaims a portion of "The Mer-
chant of Venice" for her husband.
We never had a doubt in the world
that the next act would tell US how
Sarah ran away 10 90 on the stage or
something of the sort, but instead the
author suddenly pitched Upon Us the
love affair of Lusskin's daughter Re-
becca and the populations of Lusskin's
son Sam. To these two characters we
had scarcely been introduced. Sarah
did not tryto go on the stage until after
the third act, and it was a matter of
no moment anyhow Seemingly, the
only purpose of Sarah's stage bent was
to put Shylock in the play and justify
the title "The Modern Shylock,' which
has since been changed
In one respect we feel grateful 10 the
author of The Bargain" He has not
rsade his ending altogether happy. The
old pawnbroker remains true 20 his
faith and he forgives but will not bless
the daughter VINO has married a gentle.
The play q en- is a tragedy Yes,
il is a tragedv for Louis Calvert AMI
for Josephine Victor. II the author
could do nothing with dry bones Of
dramatic material long laid to rest
they could. Il honor is due 70 players
who distinguish themselves in a good
play what must be said Of those who
rise above a bad one. Mr.. Calvert and
Miss Victor did that.
Miss Victor, in particular, whether
or not il was so intended by the au-
thor. fairly ran away with the perform
ance. IL was her the audience wished
20 see at the end of the third act and
she was called Tor any number Of bows.
Il was in the third act that she had
her best BIT. Fortunately, it was a
scene in which she was not burdeneG
with n single bad line. As it happened
she had nothing to say.
With the choice Of sticking to her
father or her lover. Miss Victor chose
AS they always will in plays-the lover.
The choice was made quietly, emphatl-
callv and eloquently. Earlier IN the
second act the same capable young
actress did extremely well in another
of the few purple patches OF the play
The discovery by the pawnbroser OF
the fact that his daughter loves a
Gentle is we'll written and well played,
and the interest gets a sudden and un-
expected upward turn when the father
forces the girl 10 confess that not only
does she love the man OF an alien
faith. but that she has given herself 20
MIN without the formality of marriage.
And then the author went and spoiled
it all, or at least marred his scene, by
suddenly turning attention 10 the iact
that the pawrbroser's son was thief
and ending his act with an episode
which was much less interesting than
the clash between father and daughter.
Possibly Mr. Schefauer intended that
the chief interest Of The Bargain
should rest solely IN the pawnbroHer
and that his clashes with son and wife
and daughter SnOuld ne events OF e. Adl
Importance. The skill and charm Of
Miss Victor preclude the success Of
any such plan.
Louis Calvert was sincere and digni-
fed a. the father. but We did NOT feel
that he was particularly jewish.
Dorothy Donnely, an Irish woman. was
strikingly Hebraic in appearance. Mis-,
Donnelly is a splendid actress. but her
part last night gave her little chance
Forrest Winsnt as the son was COM
pelled not only 70 steal but to whine
as well. and Eugene O'Brien. also. was
not richly lowered. John Flood was
as impossible stock broker as we
have ever seen. But we think the
blame falls elsewhere.
In addition TO Withholding a happy
ending. the author OF THE Bargain
showed restraint IN one other partic-
ular The hoy who stole from his en-
riover took only $1,000 His WAS the
sixth stage embezzlement which wo
lave witnessed this year aud the
smallest by $4,000.
'NDNAN-WA