MOSCOVITCH.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18412, 19 June 1925, Page 15

MOSCOVITCH.

GREAT ACTOR-GENIUS. Arrangements were made some months ago Vt J. C. "Williamson, Ltd., for the appearance in the Dominion of the famous actor, Maurice Moscovitch, at Easter, but owing to the big success that attended this artist in Sydney and Melbourne, the management were reluctantly compelled to postpono his coming to New Zealand at that time. Now we are to see Mosoovitch and his famous company at last. Ho will commence his Christchurch season at tho Theatre Eoyal on Thursday evening next, in the wonderfully successful drama, 'Tho Outsider," which has been playing to capacity houses at the Grand Opera House, Wellington. "The Outsider" is statod to bo an excellent drama, with a clever blend of unforced natural humour, which could be ruined very easily, however, by unskilled handling. But under tho master hand of Maurice ifo;covit'eh it becomes a vivid play, with many tense dramatic situations that are worked up in a thrillinjt manner. Maurice Moscovitch makes tho character of Anton Ragatzy a- strong, rugged, dominating figure, given to gusts of temper, but as patient as a woman with suffering. It i 3 said to be a perfect piece of work, and gives this fine actor- opportunity to portray a full range of emotion. In this production, Mosoovitch proves that he can bo subtle, with a touch as light and delicate as a gossamer, whilo the next moment he changes to thunderous methods of gusty rage and broadest of effects. On hia first performance in S} - dncy recently this master actor aroused the large audience to Buch an extent that they cheered and expressed their appreciation in the most enthusiastic manner, and at such length that after each act he was compelled to take fully a dozen calls—which he generally chared with the members of his company. What is more, he has succeeded in imbuing the members of his company with his own spirit and vision to such an extent that they one and- all give a splendid performance. "The Outsider" is a man who has cured cripples, after all the famous surgeons hr.se failed to give relief, and who resents the attitude of the surgeons towards him to such an extent that he resolves to have revenge by curing the crippled daughter of the greatest of them all, Jasper Sturdee, and then to placard London with posters announcing tho fact that he _ has done so after the greatest surgeons in the world have . fai'ed. Dorothy Brandon, the authoress, ha 3 taken for the basis of her plot the Barker case, which made such a sensation in London during the war. "The Outsider" will be staged- for five nights. Then will be presented "The Merchant of Venice" and "The Great Lover" for two nights each. The J>ox plans for "The Outsider" will open at The Bristol next Tuesday morning- 1 at 9 o'clock.