THEATRE ROYAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12572, 8 March 1919, Page 9

THEATRE ROYAL.

■ « The presentation by the J. C. Williamson Company last night of the, comedy-drama ’-'Friendly Enemies” ■was an unqualified success. The acting was exceptionally good, and the plot was of an original kind. The well known characters, James 11. Waters and Nick Adams, who have earned fame as “ Potash and Perlmutter,” again appeared in Yiddish parts, and the popularity that has attended them for so many years followed them to the Theatre Royal last night. Briefly the play centres around two GcnuanAmericans, one a staunch citizen of his adopted country, and tlfe other a citizen who is truer to the Fatherland than ho is to America. When the latter country enters the war the disloyalist comes out in his true/Gorman character. He has an American-horn son, however, who puts on the uniform and sails for the front. The father is heart-broken and disowns him. Shortly afterwards the father is approached by a German spy, ,wbo seeks financial assistance to aid the German cause. This money is readily given, hut too late the father discovers that ho has indirectly assisted to sink tho transport on which his son sailed to Europe. Then his loyalty to Prussia evaporates and he becomes a staunch supporter of* the Allies’ cause. The part was an extremely difficult one to play and was performed before an audience who possibly had never before realised the problem of the ten million GcnnanAmericam resident in the XJnited Stotes- As the wife of the German, - Miss Maggie Moore ably played the role of a sorrowing mother whoso loyalist opinions had to bo kept in the background for fear of hurting the feelings of her husband. Miss Tien Hogue was also good in her part of tho sweetheart of the young soldier. Mr George Edwards was seen to great advantage ns the soldier son, while Mr Edmund Sherras ably took the.difficult part of the German spy. Several musical items .were given between the acts, including American national melodies, selections from "Going Up” and* " Ca-va-lloria Rusticana.” " Friendly Enemies ” will again be performed to-night, when hi« Excellency the Governor-General and suite will be present.