RUSSIAN DRAMA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18901, 17 January 1927, Page X

RUSSIAN DRAMA.

TREND OF INFLUENCE. A NEW REALISM. * "Do I think the English-speaking sta«o has been influenced by the Russian theatre?" said Mr Maurice Moscovitch on Saturday. "Well, yea, there is a note of realism now that it is directed by the writings of such men ns Turgencv, Tchckov, and DostoieffsUv. The play that wo shall produce here "They Knew What They Want-d'-'isreahsm. It comes right.from here." The actor drew his hand trom h "Thrtjtay won the Pulitzer Prize," h e continued, "and 1, too, would. give ? t a prize. It is life. The people ro people of a small farm in CahforniaKy are hobos-thcy would not speak as men of Oxford. And because ihe Sov is real and true, with no hypocrisy and no apologies, people isay that i is salacious. We want truth in the theatre as much.us in other phases of U Mr Moscovitch said that the Russian drama was too "highbrow" for the commercial theatre. In a little theatre a number of people might be collected who would appreciate one of the*© • lavs very much, but they would never L "successful from tho standpoint ot tho box office. If there was anyone w ho should play Russian drama it was be but ho would not because he always would act in plays which gavo scope for production. ',' The day of the small touring company is done," said tho Russian actor. "Nowadays people expect too mucii. Thev are spoiled. They want different furniture in each production, different, carpets, everything grand and brilliant, and the small company cannot do it. People who take out small companies on tour lose their, money. Tho pictures hare a deal to do with this. They make the public dissatisfied with small productions. For a play to be successful there must first of all be a good company, then they-must have good clothes," good scenery, and properties, .and the show must be clean" . Mr Moscovitch will bo in Australia for about a year after ho completes his . | New Zealand tour, and then he will

return to play: "The Music Master, a.play which achieved great success in America .when it was first, produced. He to a great liking for Ohristchurch, although the weather was not good when he was here a year arid a half ago. He finds an air of activity that pleases him and is thankful that there is not the wind he has encountered elsewhere.