AMUSEMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12570, 6 March 1919, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. The amusing Hebrew play, ‘ ‘ before Pleasure,” was repeated at lh*’ Theatre Royal last evening before aa*. other large and appreciative audience, Christchurch theatregoers will have an' opportunity of seeing it again to-night^ " FRIENDLY ENEMIES." V j The war play, ‘' Friendly Enemies/’ which is to bo staged by J. U.' \Vi|lutm«; son’s clever comedy company, including the famous Hebrew comedians, "Messrs Adams and Waters, at the ' theatre Royal to-morrow and Saturday even? ingsy has been enthusiastically : received in the North Island. In tlie r ’Eew pl&yi' the artists receive much greater bpppn* (.unities than in the opening production to display their abilities ‘jp make'playgoers ; laugh, “and,” said a 'Northetp critic, :‘i carno as a grqat iWelb'tioh. r nd« ; tiling finer being enjoyed in. Auckland, since 11. B. Irving and Oscar AscEa visßed .that town. During the initial production in America of -.‘■Friendly Enemies ’’ President Wilson stood up id his private box, and amid a; "scene of patriotic enthusiasm ho made, the ' fallowing remarks to the huge! audience,;. “All that I can say has already been-, said in this beautiful play. All the sen*, timeuts I could express, have; been ad« mirably represented—sentiments that I hope will soon grip the whole world;'!’' “Friendly Enemies" is said.to bo .a, very human play, very pathetic,, and, equally convincing, and n great deal more dramatic than humorous. The plot is particularly interesting. Ivor]; Pfeiffer is a convinced German, and his, friend, Henry Block, is ‘ a .converted German. The, two qu#rel over the war,., news in a way that is said to.reminclone V of “Potash and. Perlmuttcr.” -. Theymake all the smart retorts about the war that have gob into the papers Sided* the war began, but there is much genii- ! ino humour in their arguments and, their demeanour. Block’s daughter iijG engaged to Pfeiffer’s son, and Pfeiffer's son, unknown to his father, has enlistedwith the American troops. ‘ Of course, his mother knows—she has bf?Vn a good* German wife, which means, ajid' liknt wife, for thirty years]—butndjy Bhg. has to keep that secret from her Ger'man husband. The boy returns in um-' form, land the. father must be told. The, boy g|oes off in a transport; the transport is sunk by a Gorman spy ; the boy is missing, and the father swears to,, bring .the spy to justice, no, matter what happens, and so the interest is sustained right up. to the final fall eff thw curtain. The acting ol Messrs Adams and Waters in the principal parts yind'; of Miss Maggie Moore as, Marie Pfeiffer was highly praised in Sydney, where.th.e play achieved a big success. Miss Tien v Hogue will make her reappearance Herein the part of June Block. _ The company will leave for Sydney by v the Moeralti on Monday. psi, - CRYSTAL PALACE. rtf*’ The proaranuno showing at Crystal Palace this" week is meeting with much appreciation. *1 The Girl with the£ Champagne Eyes,” staning Jewel Carmen, is a powerful story, of; ; ,J crowded with strong dramatic, incidents, deep human touches and bubbling fun. “Mr Logan, portraying --tile ever popular Tom Mix, is a story,of secret service, where grim duty outweighs the call of love, and contains many thrilling ''stunts” and feats of Horsemanship. The third item bn the all-star bill is “Wild Women and Tame Lions,” a Sunshine comedy, and companion pio.ee to ’! Roaring Lions and Wedding Bolls.’* SYDENHAM PICTURES.-,'^ At the Sydenham Pictures to-night j' the main feature will be “By Purchase.” portraying Norma Talmadge This is an enthralling ami.-, 'artistic; study. There will be a good supporting programme. 1; cJL