COMEDY SUCCESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16372, 21 June 1927, Page 3

COMEDY SUCCESS

"ABIE'S IRISH ROSE" The fame of the comedy success, " Abie's Irish Rose," had preceded the production to Gishorne. and even the bad weather that prevailed last evening failed to prevent the attendance of a large audience at, the Opera Bouse, at the opening of the season here. The play lived up to its reputation, for its production was punctuated by bursts of laughter, rising occasionally to explosions of'mirth, as the many excellent lines of the dialogue, and the remarkably effective situations, followed one another. The story might, well have been the foundations of a serious problem play, and the underlying theme has doubtless provided dramatists with many forceful plays, but if was the happy touch of Miss Anne Nicholls, an American playwright, that brought into relief in " Abie's Irish Rose " the delicious humor of contrasts between the Irish and the Jews, and the reactions of one race to the characteristics of the other.

The play enjoys the reputation of having offended neither Irishman nor Jew, and having seen it, as produced last night, one can well understand how this has been achieved. There is of the prejudice in New ZeaitUld between the two races that for many years had held so strong a sway in certain parts of U.S.A., and yet the point of view of Dominion audiences is close enough to that of the American to permit a fairly accurate under standing of the situations which " Abie's Irish Pose '' brings forth. The son of an orthodox Jew marries the daughter or an Irishman whose religious scruples are as strong, and though the young people love one another warmly enough to brave parental wrath, their path is a, thorny one from the start. Abie's* father has always looked forward to having a " Yiddisher " daughter-in-law, and his insistence on the racial qualification gives rise to early complications. Bringing his newly-acquired wife home for the first- time, Abie finds himself in such a position that be gives his father to understand that she is a true Jew. of typically Yiddish family name. This delights the old father, and when tho young pair admit they lovo each oilier, he arranges a, wedding, almost regardless of cost, his friend Rabbi Samtiels performing the ceremony, at, which the bride's very Irish father arrives just, too late to" interrupt. There are hot. words between the fathers, and the difficulties of the situation in which the young people find themselves are only' relieved when Jewish Rabbi and Catholic priest unite to make their marriage binding from every point of view, even though the fathers are strenuously opposed to such a course. This does not make things happier between the young pair and their respective parents, though neither of the latter can cavil at the binding nature of the marriage, and tho eventual solution of the difficulties makes a very happy curtain. The success of the play lies in the interpretation given to the comparatively few characters by an able company of artists. Though more is seen Of Abie and Rosemary, tho young people, the dramatic values of the comedy mainly spring from the work of Jack Trainor, as 'Solomon Levy, the doting Jewish father, whose pride in his boy and the lovely bride he has won receives so severe a setback. Solomon receives excellent treatment from Mr. Trainor, and there are many situations in the production which call for more than ordinary histrionic ability for their success. There are but a few moments of solemnity throughout the play, but during these few seconds the audience sees beneath the veil of humor a true appreciation of racial pride and paternal love. Though a comedy character, tho Jewish fatjher lives with astonishing clarity as portiayed by. Mr. Trainor. Miss Grace Stafford, fis Rosemary Levy, nee Murphy, gives a delightful performance, and captivated last night's audience by her sweet naturalness. Her work is that, of a real actress of comedy parts, giving a. spontaneous effect which many older artists might envy. George Duryea, in the character of Abie, gained much sympathy and many laughs in his attempts to keep dark the secret of his wife's family connections, and his later efforts to convince his wife that he has no regrets. His is a. likeable character, well handled in this production. Patrick Murphy, father of Roseniiary, is shown m the character of an iniiammable but lovable Irishman of the well-recognised comedy type, by John McC'ahe, whose boisterous work adds much to the piquancy of the various scenes. The rabbi and the priest, whose efforts' towards the reconciliation of the young 1 people ;and their parents are eventually attended bv success, are seen a good deal of, and in the hands of Henry Mortimer and David Wall their respective characters receive painstaking treatment. Not less important to the comedy element are Alfred Cordon and Miss Bertha Walden, who, as Isaac Cohen and Mrs. Isaac Cohen, are in most of the scones am A the greater part of the fun, contributing their opinions and comments with a naivete that convulses the audience, Mrs. Cohen is unable to shake off the memory of an operation ttndergone three years before the story opens, and the references to her painful experiences in that connection appear to reveal her as an entirely selfish woman, but her actions belie her verbosity, <and in the long run Mrs. Cohen secures the penultimate laugh, the final outburst being, of course, that signalling the reconciliation of the grandfathers. ( "Abie's Irish Pose" will be presented again to-night. There will he. a matinee to-morrow.