AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1915, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

J. C. WILLIAM-SON'S COMPANY. ■ POTASH AND PERLMUTTER." Never in the history c! the Australasian stage lias a company or a play created the same amount of delighted enthusiasm as that which was displayed in Sydney and Melbourne over the production of the delightfully fascinating and excruciatingly humorous Hebrew comedy, "Potash and Perlmutter," which is to be staged for the first and only time here at the Theatre Royal on Thursday night, next. It must certainly be a'good play that can attract record audiences in Sydney for upwards of ten weeks during the present strenuous times, but thus is what "Potash and Perlmutter" has done, and even then it had to be taken oil' while it was still being witnessed by crowded audiences. Potash and Perlmutter, who constantly quarrel with eMh other, and in their arguments provide continuous laughter tliat never once springs from the extravagance of burlesque, are, indeed, rather poor business men, because they are often imposed upon, frequently confounded, and lor wholly sentimental reasons pia.ee themselves ia a position where ruin stares them in the face. Their keenness and their kindness are in curious contrast. In excerpts from the text one could compose a booklet that in satire, humor and the everyday philosophy of life would be very widely read. Indeed, the story, like so many American plays, appeared in book form, so that many of the best points are familiar. Yet it is one of the few instances in which one can say that the whole subject makes a far better play than a story, scene and action supplying so much that become uninteresting detail in a book, unless the author has the rare gift of creating for his readers the mind picture that lies before his own eyes. The new comedy introduces some leading American artists who have already become popular in Australia and New Zealand, chief among them being Mr Paul Burns and Mr. Sam Lc Bert, who, it is said, make the parts of Abe Potash and Mawruss Perlmutter actually live upon the stage. Miss Margaret Vinton, one of America's leading artists, created a very favorable impression as Ruth Goldman. Miss Vinton, besides being a beautiful woman, has a charming persenility, Miss Lizzie Wilson and Mr. Samuel Howard, who also hail from New York-, are, it is said, very amusing in the parts of Mrs, Potash and Marks Pasinsky. Altogether there are over 40 people concerned in the production. The plan will open at Collier's on Tuesday morning next at 8 o'clock.

EMPIRE PICTURES. Last night's new programme featured Vitagraph's two-part special drama, "Regan's Daughter." In the mountains a detective captures an outlaw, who is his sweetheart's father. The outlaw saves the deteotive's life, at the cost of Ins own. In loveTuid gratitude, he keeps the knowledge of her father's life from her. It is a very impressing photo-play. The Reliance Company are responsible for "Sympathy Sal," a splendid drama in two parts. "With the Allied Fleets in the Dardanelles" and the latest Australian Gazette provide an interesting twenty minutes. The comedies shown were "The Champion Bear Slayer" (Selig), and "Ambrose's Hasty Temper" (Keystone). A new programme will be shown to-morrow.

ROYAL PICTURES. The new feature heading to-morrow's programme is a splendid star drama by Lubin entitled "The Frame-up." This is a rushing story of two desperate men who both love the same girl. Slip is forced to choose between them. The rejected man attempts a fearful revenge, but the girl prevents it. Another feature drama is Vitagraph's two-part drama, "Out of the Past." The picture is distinguished by excellent jicting, and it haß a splendid real life plot. It is the story of a woman whose early environment had not been of the best, but who had managed (o keep free from contamination. She marries an honourable man, from whom she keeps all knowledge of her past history Her father and an accomplice burgle her home. The story provides many sensational situations, and the drama is brought to a satisfying and highly dramatic finale. The Keystone Company are again to the fore with a captivating farcp. called "He Wouldn't Stay Down.'' Ford Sterling is in the lead. A crowd try to drown Ford but he wouldn't stay down. Four good films besides.