RETURN OF MOSCOVITCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 386, 21 June 1928, Page 16

RETURN OF MOSCOVITCH

IN “THE SILENT HOUSE” At His Majesty’s Theatre, commencing on Thursday next and for seven nights only, J. C. WTlliamson, Ltd., announce the return visit of Maurice Moscovitch and the brilliant dramatic company supporting him in the first presentation here of “The Silent House,” a joyous melodrama by John G. Brandon and George Pickett. There are many thrilling moments in “The Silent House,” the plot is a remarkably clever one, the mystery not being solved until the final curtain, and there is an acceptable vein of humour which relieves the tension. For the Australian and New Zealand tour, J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have assembled a remarkably strong company, which includes several well-known London artists who have already achieved a high reputation. In the leading role Moscovitch gives a display of dramatic power, the equal of which has rarely, if ever, been seen in New Zealand. He plays the part of Dr. Chan-fu, a tall Oriental mandarin, dignified in courage, 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 of a thinking Oriental to whom this Occidental civilisation of ours is one vast insoluble riddle. Maurice Moscovitch’s part has been declared a super one. The company supporting the star includes Nat Madison as Ho-Fang. His is also an Oriental part, but shows up in a fine light, as he has almost unlimited opportunities for showing his capabilities as an actor in both humorous and tragic scenes. A newcomer with the show is Roger Barry, who as Capt. Phillip Barty, provides a humorous vein throughout the unfolding of the story. Richard Webster, as Mateo, and Ashton Jary, as Senor Leon Peroda, are two of the outstanding villains of the play, Hwang, by Guy Hastings, is a unique role of a dumb Chinese. George Blunt is Benson, Reginald Newson is Capt. George Wainsford, the hero of the piece, and a delightful study is that of Miss Bertha Riccado as T’Mala. The story is an Oriental one of sliding doors, Chinese torture chambers, hidden cupboards, clutching hands, and for excitement and thrills is said to outdo “The Ringer” and “The Terror." The box plans open on Monday at Lewis Eady, Ltd.