ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

J, a WILLIAMSON 00. "POTASH AND PERLMUTTER." Quite the most important attraction, and the most expensive, which has been sent to New Zealand in recent jears by J.C. Williamson Ltd., is, the celebrated Hebrew comedy "Potash and Perlmntter, 1 ' which is to be staged here on Thursday, November IS, "Potash and Perlniutter" has proved the greatest laughter maker of all the plays ever staged in New York and London, while in Australia its success has been simply phenomenal. It packed the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, to overflowing for eight weeks after it was staged at Die Criterion Theatre, Sydney, for a month it was found necessary to transfer it to His Majesty's Theatre, and even the enormous seating capacity of this play-, house proved quite incapable of holding the people who nightly endeavoured to obtain admission. "Potash and Perlmutter" will be the first play produced here with a "Yiddish" atmosphere. It is not only characterised by a great deal of humor—there is no race with a keener of humor than that of the Jews—hut, underlying it all is a vein of sentiment, a touch of pathos, and a delightfully fascinating love interest. After J. C. Williamson, Ltd., had paid an unprecedented sum for the Australasian rights of "Potash and Perlniutter," they patiently waited an opportunity to procure the principals, wiio made the piece the success it proved in New York, and they were fortunate in being able to engage Messrs. Paul Rums, Sam Le Bert, Samuel Howard, three of America's greatest character artists, also Miss Margaret Vinton, said to he one of the most beautiful and most talented actresses we have yet witnessed on the Australian stage, and Miss Lizzie Wilson. "Potash and Perlniutter" is one of those plays that cannot fail under any conditions, but its wonderful triumphs are to an extent attributed to the perfect manner in which it is presented. The company, numbering over 40 artists, also includes Messrs. Lewis Willoughhy. Victor Talnall, Cyril French, E. h. Delaney, John de Lacy. John Vincent, Lawrence Hardinge, Charles Lawrence, Edwin Lester, Oarlton Stuart, also Misses Nance Winton, Gladys Young, Owen Weston, Rosalind S'meaton, Sylvia Bremner and Oladys Pardy. Tlie magnificent dresses arc a big feature of the production. A full operatic orchestra will play some specially interesting music. The box plans will he opened at Colliers' on Tuesday, November IC.

"TH'E MIDDLEMAN"." At the Empire Theatre to-day and to-night there will be unfolded the wide-ly-known story by Sir Henry Arthur Jones, ''The Middleman." The drama was played throughout the Dominion some years back, and was considered to be of great merit. In the picture version the London Film Company have secured the services of the celebrated Albert Chevalier to sustain the leading role. The story goes that an inventor, Cyrus Blenkarn, is exploited by a capitalist, Joseph Chandler, and ' although the worker's discovery saves the employer from ruin, it is the master who reaps the benefit. Then, in rapid sequence, oo.mes the illicit love of the inventor's daughter, Mary, with the son of the capitalist. Julian, the way they are parted, and the disappearance of the girl. Mary is saved and cared for by the Salvationists, and her child is born to face death immediately. AH this while Cyrus, terrible in h'is hatred for the Chandlers, is frantically searching for the secret of the old Tatlow chinaware. P,y great self-denial he succeeds, and Chandler, whom idle speculation lias brought face to face with ruin, is humbled to the dust. Then conies the return from Africa of Julian, and through a newspaper paragraph he discovers the whereabouts of Mary. The re-union is an affecting scene, all misunderstandings are cleared up, and a mnrriage is hastily performed. The couple return to Tatlow Hall, and the denouement provides a highly dramatic moment. On the same programme are "Forcing Dad's Consent," a Vitagraph merrymaker; the latest "War Budget"; "Western Norway in Snow" (scenic), "Three Suitors and a Dog" (comedy). Seats may be reserved at Woolby's' or Theatre!

THEATRE ROYAL. At the Theatre Royal to-day at 2.,10 Lubin's big feature drama will be screened. ''The Bond of Woman," as the film is titled, tells of Nell Rogers, the wife of a wealthy man, who leaves him because of his affairs with other women. She sets out one morning, and on the way meets Mary Wilkes, who is also parted from her husband. A friendship ripens between the two women, and confidences are exchanged. Shortly after this a baby is born to Nell. One day Nell sees a motor-car containing her husband ami some fast women pass along the road. On the same day Mary's husband, Wilkes, calls at the cottage with his brutal threats directed towards Mary. Mary secretly sets out to see Rogers. She finds him in the midst of a garden party, surrounded by his friends. She forces her way in and delivers her simple sermon. .She describes Nell's mental and physical suffering so pathetically that slie persuades Rogers to return with her to her cottage. In the meantime Nell has performed a similar mission by seeking out Wilkes in a low-down river hut. Rogers sets out for the cottage, where he is reconciled with Nell over the cradle, of their infant. Then Wilkes appears in the doorway and pleads to be forgiven. The city man and bis wife leave with the baby, whilst Wilkes turns to Mary with the first show of tenderness he has ever exhibited, and promises his intention to make amends for the past. A grand and varied bill supports the star. Foremost is "Wellington Queen Carnival Procession," and, second, a Keystone comedy, "The Versatile Villain." ' Seats may be reserved at Hoffmann's.