Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-07
theatrical season tho house has ever

theatrlcai season the house has ever
known.
Woods. there was thrown upon the
scrccn--that's all wrong: II Just shows
what habit Will do, There was pre-
sentcd on the stage, on wooden
stage with footlights in front OF 1t, by
live people. human beings with voices
and excellent actors. for the most part
ono OF the most irresstibly amusing
comedies OF the last dccade-"Potash
Perlmutter." The title OF the COM
edy Is inserted here for the purpose
OF rounding up this Introduction,
though 1t isn't necessary. This town
Is not yet so big that everybody, at
least every theatergoer. hasn't known
for weeks that Potash & Perlmutter'
would open the season at the Academy.
The piece Itself. too. is 30 we'll known
that every theatergoer, not to say ev-
cry reader OF popular magazines, has
a very clear idea OF it's comedy style.
II is the medium by which Abe Pota sh
and Morris Perlmutter. those inimita-
BILE creations of Montague Glass. have
been transferred from the printed page
to the speaking stage. But to realize
the ingenuity, the cleverness and the
insight with which this TRANSFORMED
ton has been wrought. 1t is necessary
to see and hear the play Itself.
Within the limits of a three-act
comedy, the author. playwright adapt
er, or whoever it was that did the
work, has crowded sort Of comedy
epic. Although there are n hundred
laughs in every scene, there are nnu-
mcrable points that reveal the kindli-
ness. the unselnshnesS. the warm af-
lection that mark the people whom
Montague Glass has portrayed in his
studies of life in the cloak and suit
trade. or types. as we call them, the
play is filled: the partners themselves,
the buyer, the fresh salesman. the
sharp lawyer-unfamiliar to us. fortu-
nately-and each of these types re-
reals something.
Nne-tenths of it is sheer, whole
some comedy: one-tenth Is straight
drama, and the whole suggests, from
time 10 time the tragedy OF a people
This suggestion is made by the intro
duction OF young man who has left
Russia to avoid arrest for n crime he
had no share in. and the prettiest
thing In the story is the way in which
his people. from highest to lowest
rally TO his assistance. This young
man is one OF the best-drawn charac-
ters In the play: educated to his finger
tips. polished. musician and a dream
err. he might be young Rubinstein.
And, as has been said this brightest
Of comedies Is presented by a COM
pany that surpasses even the hopes OF
most OF us. who have felt some fear
as to what Mr.. Woods was sending US.
There are one or two weak spots; the
wife Of Potash. Rosie. does not play in
character, certainly not with sufficient
accent and several of what might be
called extra" people are not satisfac-
tory But the principals are capable
and well-schoolcd actors, who have
been working together long enough to
give a most excellent performance.
Nat s. Jerome is not only amusing,
but extremely appealing. as Potash;
Charles Lipson, after the first act, in
which he seems to force. is both laugh
able and powerful as Perlmutter; Da-
vid c. Werner's Pasinsky is satisfac-
tory: Arthur Brams plays the sales
man; Moe Rabiner. with just the prop
er amount OF cheerful nerve: Violet
Barney is quiet and capable in the role
of Miss Goldman. the designer. and
the performance of David Leonard in
the part of the Russian refugee is high
~ artistic-in repose, in precision OF
English and In suggestion of the for
eign, his is r noteworthy bit OF act
ing.
Potash Perlmutter" will be hard
to follow, as they say in vaudevillain-
csc; 1t is as full of laughs as a new
shirt is of pins. t. .
DOUGLAS GORDON.
Another Tip-Top Show Mt the Lyric.
as we'll leave in type, for use twice a
week, the line-"Again the Lyric has a
good bill" 1t is certainly true OF the
show for the first part Of the week,
as was attested by the laughing. ap-