MAURICE MOSCOVITCH SEASON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 13

MAURICE MOSCOVITCH SEASON

<( THE MERCHANT OF .VENICE. 55 Of all the plays with which Shakespeare has enriched the language there is prohably none better known or widely enjoyed than “The Merchant of Venice. ' Placed by the critics at the beginning of the great dramatist’s second period, it reveals, as Pumivall puts it, ‘Uha first full Shakespeare.’' It is a delightful interweaving of two ancient and romantic tales, told to the accompaniment of many subtle harmonies and variations such as only the master hand could weave. Though it is definitely to bo placed among the comedies, yet the element of grim tragedy plays no inconsiderable part in the story of the Venetian merchant and his implacable Jewish enemy. In it we see “not one feeling dominating all the rest, but a symphony of grace and fierceness, mercy, and vengeance, friendship and love, and fiohdlike hate, of wit and humour, too, all harmonised by the quiet strains of heaven s own choir of stars.” Such_ in a sentence is the nature of the piece which Mir Maurice Moscovxtch and his company undertook to present at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening. , \ Shylock is dearly the hero of the play. No one interpretation is capable of exhausting the meaning of so masterly a creation, and heroin lay the source of much of the keen interest displayed in last night’s presentation. The conventional Shylock is familiar to most playgoers, bat it was understood that Maurice Moscovitch in that part had something new to offer. One thing,” at any rate, was clear to all who had seen him in “The Outsider,” that hero was a gifted actor with the rugged strength, the passion, the lightning versatility, the physical endowments peculiarly suited to the part. His Jewish birth obviously gave him another commanding advantage in entering into the spirit of the part. Perhaps these favouring circumstances led one to expect too much, but at any rate it oould not bo said that Mr Moscovitch succeeded in adding anything of consequence to the interpretation of Shylock as previously seen hero. As one would expect, his best work was in the trial scene, but even here he was not always convincing. _ In the earlier parts his lack of fire and vigour gave the impression that he was holding himself in reserve for the great dimax, but even his trial scene, usually a volcano of elemental passion, was subdued and restrained. In the_ familiar passage beginning “Signor Antonio, many a time and oft upon the Rialto,” with its bitter allusions to the indignities suffered 'by his race, he effectively conveyed by quiet means the intensity of the old miser’s feelings. The close of the scene in which he came back for a dropped kerchief and in dumb show expressed his hate of the retreating Antonio was an impressive touch. Not so happily executed was the conception in closing a later scene of Shylock returning to nis empty house • and afterwards staggering with a groan . into the street. • The pathos of some of the speeches in the scene in which Tubal skilfully plays upon Shylock’s alternating passions of avarice and revenge was perhaps as moving as anything seen during ’ the evening. The presence of Tubal beside the central figure in the trial scene took away some of his traditional loneliness and made opportunity for a good deal o£ expressive acting that would not otherwise bo possible. The conception of Shylock's exit with the broken man mustering !all his energies to outface his triumphant foe and then staggering helplessly into Tubal’s arms was good, out scarcely convincing ... its execution. Next after Shylock, ; rest centres in Portia, and in this part

- ,i 3 Joan Robertson acquitted herself with no small charm and grace. She, too, in keeping with the conception of Shylock, tended to give a quiet and restrained interpretation, but in tie trial scene she did not hesitate to let herself go and display the necessary vigour and passion. Her pleasing voice is always perfectly audible, and she lias a happy, light touch for the many humorous scenes in which Portia has a part. Mr Arthur Greenaway made a decided success of the part of Antonio, presenting him as sober and dignified, loyal, and brave. He made it easy to believe that such a man could win unbounded devotion from his friends. The very amusing part of La'iincelot Gobbo suited Mr Nat Maddison admirably, and he took full advantage of the endless opportunities the part gives. In exploiting them he showed not a little originality. As Nerissa, Miss Eileen Sparks played her part charmingly with Portia, and grasped well the requirements of the role. A word of praise was also earned by Mr H. MackenzieRogan, who made a courtly and dignified Duke, and at another time invested the Prince of Arragon with a most entertaining “Oxford manner,” and by Miss Isobel Wilfotd, who was Jessica, “the most beautiful pagan, most sweet Jew.” Salarino (Mr Charles Hawthorne) and„Salanio (Mr Raymond Lawrence) were usually too rapid to bo intelligible. The parts of Bassanio (Mr lan M’Lean), Lorenzo (Mr Richard Webster), Gratiuno (Mr Basil Bowen), Morocco (Mr G. K. Souper), and Balthazar (Wynne Bronte) were all satisfactorily filled. An outstanding difference between Mr Allan Wilkie’s presentation of the play hero in 1921 and 1922 and Mr Moscovitch’s may be described by saying that Mr Wilkie took a student’s view of it throughout, whereas Mr Moscovitch aims rather at a popular and modern interpretation. The vigorous baiting of the Jew was made a prominent feature of the play. The audience was frequently roused to hearty applause, but it could not be said that, it was ever really gripped a's it was on the opening night of “The Outsider.” The closing ■Venn, with the sweet moonlight sleeping on the bank and the delightfully amusing comedy of the rings made a happy and harmonious close to the performance. The mounting and scenery were beautiful and artistic, and the introduction of a gondola in the scone where Jessica runs gway was effectively picturesque. Fading light effects were particularly well managed. “The Merchant of Venice” will bo presented again for the last time this evening, and it will bo replaced on Monday night by “ The Groat Lover.” .