Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-31
FRIENDLY ENEMIES
WINS FRIENDS AT LYRIC
Lew Fields and Charles Win.
ninger Delightful in Comedy
Parts of War Play

There Is much drama that sticks in the
mind in the comedy lines Of Friendly Enc
mics the latest in the ever-g growing category
OF war plays TO come TO Philadelphia. and
which met with such a genuinely enthus'as-
tic reception at the Lyric Theatre last night.
10 be sure. there are so many concessions to
ones patriotic impulses in the piece that any
other than kindly reception could scarcely
be anticipated for It But back-handed COM
pliments aside, be it said that "Friendly
enemies on its opening night made many
friends, and II there were any others differ.
emily minded present they certainly were
conspicuous for their silence.
critical analysis of the A. II. Woods pro-
duction can scarcely be expected not to take
cognzance of the fact that It's timeliness has
been lessened by the swift march of events,
which has thrust the passions of the early
months Of our entry into the war already
somewhat into obscurity. And 1t must be
admitted that because such very brief
time has elapsed we neither can regard those
passions with the pleasure with which we
would live over again the incidents of
more distant past. nor again with that dis
tnct sense of diversion which comes from
recognizing our experiences in some newer
and different garb. There is 80 much which
is obvious in Friendly Enemies that the
play cannot be said to lay claim to allure
ments Of novelty.
But what the aforesaid march OF events
has done 10 lessen the effectiveness OF
"Friendly Enemies Lew Fields and Charles
W'nninger in equal measure have accom-
pished to enhance its aDneal Solomon him
self would hesitate to decide which of them
contributed more genuinely to the comedy
with which the play abounds. Fields-well.
Is just Lew Fields. with his irresistible power
t" furnish heightened fun. and Winn'nEer ts
SO Comical in his movements and gestures
that he scarcely needs his lines TO help him
win his audience. 1t would he difficult to
find two other more suitable players for the
parts Of Kar' PFaffer and Henry Block, the
"frendlv enemies"
Both Pfeiffer and Block are German .Ameri-
cans. although Block long since has re-
nounced the hyphen. They differ most up
roaricuslv over the issues Of the war and
frequently are on the verge of blows. but
ALWAYS are prevented from losing their last
vestge OF control by the intervention OF Mrs.
Pfe'ffer and June Block. who is engaged to
marry William Pfe'ffer. son of Karl. The
elder Pfeffer. who is rabid'y pro-German III
his sentiments. thinks his son in college,
whereas he has really enlisted in tn" United
States army. In order to aid the fatherland
| pfe'ffer gives a big sum OF money to one
Walter Stuart. vino in reality is German
| spy. but who deceives Pfeiffer 70 the dis
| honorable Use he purposes to make Of his
| money Then. on the cVe of his denarture for
| France W''liam tells his father that he has
| enl'sed Many combinations follow and old
| Pfeiffer remains obdurate. He refuses TO
| attend the wedding of his son to June Block
| and regards himself as man without a
| family. Then comes the news of the treach-
| erous sinking of the transport on which
| W'lliam sailed and the realizat' ION to old
PFe'ffer that his money was used to sink the
| ship on which his own son had sailed. That
| settles the fatherland for Pfeiffer and he
| helps Block trap Stuart and turn him over
| TO tho Secret Service operatives. Wi'liam Is
among the survivors from the transport. and
| 60 the plav ends happily.
A. good deal could be said for Marie RiG1l-
| ard In the role of the loving mother and
| docIle wife of the elder Pfe'ffer Perhaps
| her handling Of the broken English lines was
| not so sponta neous as was the case with
| Fields and Winninger. yet she did speak
| clearly and meet the other requirements OF
| her role quite to satisfaction. Robert Will
| lams the soldier son showed n good deal
| OF restraint for one possessed of such a stub
| born father. but then these were the require
| ments of the part. As n lover and in dis
| playing many kindnesses to his mother he
was at his best. Helen Collier as June Block
seemed quite self conscious in the role of tn.
Eancee Belle Mitchell played small parl
| as the maid.
Tie authors of Friendly Enemies" are
| Samuel Shipman and Aaron Hoffman.