"POTASH AND PERLMUTTER."

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1915, Page 8

"POTASH AND PERLMUTTER."

A DELIGHTFUL PLAY, JOVIAL, GENIAL, JKWS. When Mr. Montague Glass conceived Abe Potash and Mawruss Perlmutter, wholesale suit and cloak manufacturers of New York City, he evidently had "an eye on the goods." People who have read "Potash and Perlmutter" in magazine or book form have chuckled with delight at the wraiiglir**3, the humor, the pathos of those two lovable living partners of the chosen race, who found time to wax' prosperous on the rare occasions on which they left olf wrangling to attend to business. But in its dramatised form "Potash and Perlmutter" goes one better than the book. The mission of the stage to-day is, apparently, to marce one laugh; to take one's mind away from the everobsessing topic of the world-war. If Montague Glass designed his story for laughter, and if the mission of the dramatisers and the actors is to make people laugh, they have succeeded without end in Abe and Mawrnss. The piece is simply human character all through, and though laughter reigns supreme there is infinite pathos in the story. Potash and Perlmutter, though always bickering, are in reality the best of friends. They engage an expert designer, Miss Ruth Goldman, on the recommendation of an unscrupulous solicitor named Feldman, who makes the way troublous for everyone concerned. The book-keeper, a Russian refugee, Boris Andriefl', made an error in rendering an account for 80 instead of 800 dollars. Perlmutter wishe.i tu send him oil'. Potash is not in favor. Police officers come to arrest Andiieif on suspicion of a political minder for which he is wanted by the Russian police, and the partners become bail for Boris for 20,000 dollars. Later, owing to certain technicalities, the firm are faced with ruin | to find the bail, when news comes of I Boris' innocence. However, it is not the story that matters much. It is the characterisation of the Hebrew race, wonderfully depicted by Paul Burns and Sam Le Bert, that makes one feel that tradition and prejudice have caused you to misjudge Jews all your life. Abe and Mawruss are distinct types, and are portrayed with remarkable fidelity. As Abe Potash and Mawruss Perlmutter, Messrs Burns and Le Bert kept the play going from start to finish. Their quarrels made delightful merriment, and it was on Abe and Mawruss that the whole performance hinged. Miss Lizzie Wilson gave a strong and admirable study of Mrs. Potash, and was seldom out of the picture. Miss Margaret Vinton, as Ruth Goldman, the designer, handled her part with much grace and charm, and was specially effective in the last scene. Miss Sylvia Brewer made the most of her small part as Irma Potash, but this actress and Miss Rosalind Smeaton (Miss O'Brien) had little opportunity to show their undoubted talents. Mr. John de Lacy was a vigorous scoundrel, as Feldman, and Mr. Edwin Lester, as always, did faithful work. Mr, Sam Howard (Marks Pasinsky) and Mr. E. Delaney (Mozart Robiner, a salesman) were satisfactory in cleverlydrawn American types, and the minor characters were well taken. The play was witnessed by a large audience, who were enthusiastic in their applause. The setting of the comedy was faithfully carried out in every detail, and a most efficient orchestra •added to the enI joyment of one of the most delightful | plays ever staged in New Plymouth.