"TRILBY."
POPULAR REVIVAL.
MR MOSCOVITCH'S TRIUMT.i
When "Trilby," G. ' du Maurier's novel of the Latin Quartier, was adapted to the stage, and produced in New Zealand something like 25 years ago, it made an impression that is not yet forgotten by those who saw it. Subsequent revivals. liavc only served* to emphasise its merit, and there is no doubt that the performance given by the J. 0. Williamson Company in the Theatre. Koyal last night will in no degree tarnish its lustre. Tlit present generation •of playgoers is tc.rlunate, indeed, in the opportunity of seeing "Trilby" produced by euch a poweriul company, headed by an actor of the calibre of Mr Maurice Aloscovitch. '. Of the several roles in which Mr Moscovitch has been seen in Christchurch, that of Svengali stands out liko a cameo. Whereas in "The Fake" his foreign accent was not_ in keeping with the part of the Englishman, Geoffrey Sandos, and while his gestures further suggested tho foreigner, both accent and gesture are of value to him in the portrayal of the repulsive Hebrew mesmerist. His acting was gripping .in its dramatic intensity, and had such a natural air that it was easy to forget the whole performance was merely a play, and not a tragedy in real life. Mr Moscovitch's Svengali is not so despicable a character as the original—it is more human, although always cruel and calculatinghut it was nevertheless a character that filled one with loathing and contempt. The actor rose to great heights of dramatic artistry in some of the scenes. He was most effective when he depicted Svengali lying at death's door, by sheer force of will lingering just long enough to hear Trilby sing under his hypnotic influence, finally expiring when she breaks the spell. He compelled admiration, in the scene wherein Syengali is stricken with an. earlier heart attack and fearing to die at that time prays in Hebrew to tho God. that he had affected to despise. Altogether his was a remarkable performance and the audience was quick to. appreciate its worth. Miss Ellen Pollock had an onerous task allotted her in Trilby, but she was equal to the occasion. She, too, played with naturalness and restraint, and was quite at home in the most exacting scenes. She was impressive when Svengali bent her to his will by his evil stare. In the final scene when in a state of mesmerism she tells,of his illtreatment of her she was moving. She brought out all the peculiar characteristics of the artists' model in a convincing way. Two of the best male characters were Taffv (Mr John • Harper)' and Sandy (Mr .George Blunt). They had a great deal to do in all three acts and were never weak. The former used a Scottish dialect with good effect, and -mpar.ted a good comedy touch into the wedding march scene, while the latter was a fine manly type of Englishman. Mr Nat Maddison was not as happily cast' as • Little Billie as ho was in the • previous .production. The part,. however, is not a. very striking one. Mr Eichard Webster did well as Zou Zou particularly in the last act and Miss Eileen Sparks made a good Madame,Vinard, a concierge. As tile Rev. Bagot, uncle of Little Billie, Mr J. B. Atholwood gave, as lie always does, an artistic performance, and Mr Alexander Sarner was successful in his interpretation of.the part,of Gecko..Mr Beginald Newsom as Dodor, Mr Leslie Donaghey as Anthony, Mr Ken Brandon as Colonel Klaw, Miss Margaret Murray as Mrs Bagot, Miss Kerrie Kelly as Angele, and Miss Eiore King as Honorinc, also performed satisfactorily. In tho 1 last act the solo "Ben Bolt," which, is a feature of ;"Trilby," was sung tastefully by Miss Kathleen Lewis, of Hastings. "Trilby" will bo prodhced nightly during tho remainder of "tho week,'and may bo expected to draw full houses on each occasion.
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Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18904, 20 January 1927, Page 10
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649"TRILBY." Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18904, 20 January 1927, Page 10
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