New-York tribune., 1922-05-14

n lltLlo winter az thc LeluPioS, n
trifIe moro bent and slightly more
corpulent is the present Abe Potash OF
Barney Bernard In "Partnars Again"
at tho Selwyn Theater Tho passage
Of tine-it 10 nine years since Bernard
first created Montague Glass's char
acter on the stage-has wrought only
physical changes in Abe. He is still
the same Aba. big hearted and blunder-
ing, eager to be helpful to others and
usually suffering embarrassment to
himself as q result OF his efforts.
1t was no easy matter to secure
tickets for tho first performance Of
tho latest member Of the Potash and
Perlmutter series by Montague Glass
and Jules Eckert Goodman. A friend
OF Barney Berrard's called him up and
pleaded with him to use his influence
in purchasing four tickets.
IL bought them and left them at
the box Office and the party never
showed up. That's just like Potash.
He tries to do good and usually gets
in bad himself" laughed Barney
Bernard IN relating the incident.
Perhaps long association with the
character on The stage has had It's IN
conscious effect on the comedian. In
the nine years since hs started play
ing Potash he has portrayed the same
character in five different playa.
"This is tho fifth play IN which
have played Potash, and think It is
tho best Ct tho lot," said Barney
while he adjusted the grsy Grape
nustachs without which Abe would not
be Abe. "There was Potash IN real
life and Glass knew HIN. don't
think that he :s peculiarly a Hebrew
character. There are Irish Potashes,
French Potashes, English Potashes,
Italian Potashes-in fact, Potashes Of
all rationalities. He Is the lovable,
good-hearted blunderer, who, 10 mat
ter how good his motives, seems to get
in wrong"
Bernard had finished whitening his
temples and reached for the stomach
pad which gives the required corpu-
lency to his figures.
"Look &C this thing he complained,
"and with the hot summer coming on,
too. l anticipated this s.d havo been
trying TO take on weight, but have not
been able to avoid THE Oh, we'll, one
must make sacrifices IN the cause OF
art" he laughed.
The authors OF "Psrtners Again"
have furnished it with dialogue which
is almost continually funny. But at
times Bernard gets more laughs when
he keeps still, simply By his facial ex-
preston. There is seemingly nothing
that he cannot express with his eyes
and his lips, ar dthe second act scene
between Abe and the factory foreman,
although for more than e minute Abe
says nothing but walks up ard dowr,
stage, casting q glance now and then
at tho young mechanic, is ono of the
funniest IN the play.
81 pay more attention TO express
sion than to lines" said Bernard Il,
explanation Of his ability to do this.
The assignment called for talks with
both Of the stars in the comedy. Alex
Carr was found in his dressing room,
preparing for his exchanges with III.
hapless partner, Abe, who always
seems to set the worst o. Il. Yet
Mawruss would never think Of separ-
ating from Abe, who has been lis part
ner for twenty-five years. He'd have
no one left to scrap witt.
Partners Again" is significant
title. 1t was common gossip, since
tao last Joint appearance Of Carr and
Bernard, that they would never play
together again. But Archie Selwyn
did it, and judging by the success that
the production has made the theater-
going public appreciates it.
"Archie selwyn approached Us In
the right way and it was an easy thing
for him to bring US together again. 1t
is hard for me to express my delight
IN the reunion, not only from the
financial standpoint, but also from the
pleasure it gives me to get the result
with the audiences, which we sre get
ting with the play. Bernard is a past