MOSCOVITCH ON SHAKESPEARE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 192, 18 July 1925, Page 4

MOSCOVITCH ON SHAKESPEARE.

“Ah, I like him. He is modern. A’our national poet—that is why you see his works so seldom,” stated Aloscoviteh to an interviewei when asked how he liked Shakespeare. “Two years ago when I was in A’ienna, ho was being played in three theatres to crowded houses. I played him in German in Baris before the war, and 1 have played him in Germany. In England you say that Shakespeare breeds bankruptcy. 800 l ! True, he does, as he so often is produced in England. But that is because his works are not produced and presented as the plays are written —in the grand manner. He is played so often against the grain of the motif, I produce ‘The Alerchant of A’enice’ in a big way. And with what result? For ten months without change, with three matinee's a week. I played it in London. And with great financial success. A’es. 1 played it in Australia. Why was my proposed visit to New Zealand some months ago postponed until now? Because J could not get away from Australia with ‘The Alerchant of Venice.’ where I had been told Shakespeare would be a failure.

“Of course, Shakespeare's plays arc constructed in the old style. There are so many scenes. The best play in the world would be considered dull today with many scenes and gaps and pauses between them. A’es. In ‘The Merchant of A’cnice’ there are 17 to 20 scenes, but without cutting a line, 1 have so aranged tilings that between each scene there is no wait of more than half a minute. And 1 provide beautiful incidental music.”