POTASH AND PERLMUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1915, Page 3

POTASH AND PERLMUTTER.

TO-NIGHT AT 8. To-night at S o'clock at tlio Theatre Royal 'the curtain will rise on the first and only production here of the deliciously humorous and intensely interesting Jewish comedy success ''Potash and Perlmutter," which will be presented by J. C. Williamson's specially organised company of 30 English and American artists, including five of the principals who were instrumental in making the piece the wonderful success it proved in America. The fact that the Hebrew play enjoyed a run of over three years in London and of ov-er two seasons in New York is a sufficient indication that Mr. Montague Glass' piece is of outstanding merit. "Potash and Pcrlnnitler" achieved an electrical triumph in Australia, and it is now attracting record houses in the theatres of the Dominion. It is said to be a great play, that is great in the artistic handling and balancing and compelling human emotions. The two partners in the cloak and suit making business, Abe Potash and Mawruss Perlmutter, are portrayed by Mr. Paul Bums and Mr. Sam ke Bert respectively. They present two distinctive Jews, for ever bickering and shouting each other down, but at heart firm and steadfast friends. So well and convincingly does each enact his role that the fortunes and misfortunes ot the house of Potash and Perlmutter become a positive concern to 'the audience. The partners fall out with one another the whole night long, but never with their audience. To the latter they soon become as much endeared as two stage characters well could do, and for the major portion of the evening they have the audience screaming with laughter, but. there are moments of pathos which call lor exceptional acting and in these scenes Mr. Burns and Mr. Le Bert have the audience on the verge of tears. Miss Margaret Vinton, the beautiful American actress who appears as Ruth Goldman, has made herself immensely popular with audiences in the Dominion, and so has Miss Lizzie Wilson, who takes the role of Ruth Goldman. Mr. Samuel Howard, who also hails from New York,.' is said to give a perfect interpretation of the part of Marks Pasinsky. The east also includes Messrs Lewis Willoughby, K. L. Delaney, John de Lacy, Charles Lawrence, Edwin Lester, Lawrence Hardinge, Carleton Stuart, Victor Tatnall, Gresham Iluiie, also the Misses Sylvia Bremer, Nancy Winter, Rosalind Smeaton, Greta Bretelle, Molly Taylor, and Gladys Tardy. A feature of the production is the magnificent dresses worn by Miss Vinton and the other ladies. A full operatic orchestra will play specially composed music. The scenery and furnishings are said to be magnificent. The plans are at Collier's, where splendid seats in centra].poßitions are still available for to-night's performance.