The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-22
ABE AND MAWRUSS
SEEN IN NEW FORM
They Arise From the Ashes to
Amuse Theatregoers.
Again.
TO FIRST PLAY

~ AocN IlARUt at InC lAyIIO
Theatre. attempted a difficult task.
r. c. Megrue and Montague Glass un.
dertook to carry through further adven-
lures OF the lovable and amusing part
ners who were on view 90 long at the
Cohan Theatre under the name OF Pot
ash and Perlmutter." One succeas does
not always bring another in the second
brewing from the same leaves. The late
Charles Klein was to c~ollaborate with
Montague Glass In this 1915 model OF
the play. but his death left tho work to
r. c. Mesrue. He and the author, there.
fore. made the piece which the audience
saw last night. Mr.. Glass. of course,
knew his characters. and It was Mr..
Mesrue who added to the first stage ver-
sion OF these stories one Of IL. best
scenes, although his participation wal
never acknowledged. But to strike
twelve q second time was not considered
by the wise men In the lobby an easy
task. Yet the new %apparition Of the
famous hrm was q complete success.
Changes Give Variety.
Naturally the worldly station of these
characters had changed since New York
frst made their acquaintance. Last
night the opening act passed In the nat
OF Morrts P~erlnutter in West llAth
street. The pinochle game of the first
scene Is followed by the anniversary re-
ception OF the Perrin utters. n here the
business atmosphere. which again DOM
mates his play. sets in. Shall their
frm be Incorporated or not: n more
progressive members of the party are for
this change. but others stand out against
II. In the second act, which passes In
Pof0shs home on Lexington avenue,
there Ii almost a Ana interruption to
the ideal when its promoter wants to
vote himself a salary Of thousands as
the president Of the company. The con-
sentative Potosh II alarmed at the ex-
tent to which the firm will have to
branch out. and sells his share In the
business for . large sum to his asso-
ciates.
OF course with the retirement Of
Potash business disaster comes to tn.
frm. The man who had engineered the
corporation idea is busy selling stock
in the new concern when the offices OF
the Cloak and Suit Company Of North
America are shown. But there IL no
sign Of manufacturing anything that the
company Is supposed to sell. The Fed
eral authorities are by way OF ar
resting the progressive Perlnutter for
%swindling the public, the complete viii
lainy OF the promoter Is shown and
only the ready cash OF Potash, for
which he sold his share in the old
Arm. saves his old friend and partner
and puts them again On their feet. The
firm OF Potash 4 Perlmuttsr starts anew
with the promise Of perpetual prosperity
and unending royalties to Messrs. Glass
and Megrue.
New Version COnquers Audience.
All the roughly drawn comedy and
the broad strokes OF pathos which made
the success OF the first instalment OF
this dramatic serial were present last
night for the admiration Of the public.
And the first audience delighted In II.
Ii was Potash who was again conserva-
tive and careful as opposed to the DASH
ing and more careless Perlmntter. The
partners auarrelled In their old way. hut
with a difference. to add novelty to all
they said and did. All the elements
which helped TO make n fortune for A.
II. Woods out Of the original showing Of
this unique pair are present in the ar
rangement which as Abe and Mawr,iss'
conquered the public last night.
The melodramatic expedient OF the
last act in which the wife Of Perimutfer
she who invented the Averne sack
was involved did not ring true. But by
that time the new piece had won Its
public. So all was over except the ap-
plause. A. II. Woods had wisely col
lected some Of the actors who had been
identified with the original play, The
greatest of these was. OF course. Barney
Bernard. He made of Potash one OF
the dominating p~ortrayals Of the con-
temporaneous theatre. He elaborated the
role revealed its every trait OF vacilia'
ton. caution, irascibility ana anection
until it seems destined to live 80 long as
playwright can lind a frame for this
masterpiece. IL anybody should attempt
TO diminish its Importance II would De
necessary only TO ask OF those VINO sa"
the play last night what Abe and NAV
russ" would have been without Mr. Der
nard. He has made n real creation o.
the lovable Potash.
Julius Tanner indicates theatrically
the audacity and glibness OF Perimufter
but he lacks the mellowness and hu'
manity OF Alexander Carr In the am
role. The two actors should never nave
been separated. Mathiide Cottreily
played with the naturalness ana humo'
she always shows and all the actors
were admirably true to the marked types
they were representing, whether IL WAS
Lee Kohlmar as the enthusiastic puSei
or Leo Donneliy as the pushing insur'
ance agent. Then Louise Dresser Was
again the sane Ruth. quite as bionn''
beautiful and alluring as ever MI
Megrue, who was responsible Tor th'
production of the play. did HIS share o.
Inc task in the making of Abe an'
M~awruss' in mastery fashion.