RETURN OF MOSCOVITCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 385, 20 June 1928, Page 14

RETURN OF MOSCOVITCH

IN “THE SILENT HOUSE” &n eagerly looked for dramatic attraction is the return visit at His Majesty’s Theatre commencing on Thursday, June 28, of Maurice Moscovitch and the brilliant J. C. Williamson dramatic company in the first presentation here of “The Silent House,” by John G. Brandon and George Pickett. Moscovitch’s last two plays, “The Ringer” and “The Terror,” provided plenty of thrills and sensations, but they are said to be outdone in this new production. The locale of the story is Algate, the Orient of London-swarthy skinned, keen eyed rnen, alert action quick of movement and gesture are the type of people in the play—Maurice Moscovitch appears as Mandarin Chan-fu, the part of a tall Oriental, dignified in carriage with an aquiline nosed face almost ascetic in its severity of lines, yet when the veil of inscrutability lifts, as it occasionally does, there is a philosophic humour to be discerned in them—the humour of a thinking Oriental to whom this Occidental civilization of ours is one vast insoluble riddle. Nat Madison plays Ho-fang an irresistibly likeable Oriental character providing sensation and thrills and portraying a part that allows this popular actor to be seen at his best Bertha Ricardo is T’mala, the part of a beautiful dark-haired, dark-e.yed young woman, little more than a girl, a fascinating presentation. Ashton Jarry as Peroda and Richard Webster as Mateo are two villainous gentlemen of the Orient. The hero of the play is Reginald Newson as Captain Wonsford, and a clever comedy role and at the same time a strenuous part in the unravelling of the mystery is played by Roger Barry. The English assistant to Chang-fu in his scheming is Benson, played by George Blunt. Patric Curwin is Mr. Herrington. Guy Hastings is Kwang. The box plans for the season of seven nights opens on Monday at Lewis Eady, Ltd.

“The Phantom Flyer,” A 1 Wilson’s latest Universal Western air film, is making a new record as a thrill producer. Bruce Mitchell, the director, who also wrote the story, does not hesitate to exhibit this great flying ace at his most daring stunts in the clouds, although he has managed to make the story so convincing that at no time do the aerial acrobatics appear as mere exihibtions of skill. Lillian Gilmore plays the feminine lead opposite the star with Billy “Red” Jones, Don Fullen, Mary Cornwallis, Myrtis Crinley, Larry Steers and Buck Connors assisting. •