A GREAT ACTOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17569, 20 June 1925, Page 6

A GREAT ACTOR.

MAU RICE MOSCOVITCH. “Dramatic art at its highest elevation is the only description that can be given to the memorable and epic performance of Maurice Moscovitch, the great character actor, who took the large audience by storm last night in his characterisation of Anton Ragatzy, the quack doctor, in Dorothy Brandon’s drama ‘The Outsiders.’ ” This is how the critic of the “New Zealand Times” began his notice of “The Outsider,” the phenomenally successful play to be staged at the Theatre Royal J for five nights, commencing on Thurs- | day evening next. The same critic Igoes on to say:—“A remarkable and ' tensely dramatic play, based on a bold and novel plot. ‘The Outsider’ calls for j remarkable gifts of characterisation j from the central figure of Ragatzy, but ! the role fits like a glove the genius who interprets it. Nothing more brilliant than Moscovitch’s acting in this tense drama of emotions has been seen in ■ Wellington. lie was superb, and from the moment of his appearance to the dramatic and intensely moving climax in the last act he revealed himself a master of his craft. The play itself is one to be remembered. In effect it glorifies quackery to the discomfiture of orthodox surgery, and as such may rightly b© termed a controversial play. However, it is after all a play, and we have it ..on the assurance of Mr Moscovitch himself. that it must not be regarded as an attack;'on the medical profession.” In- brief the plot deals with the wonderful cures effected by Ragatzy, a quack doctor, who appears before the honorary surgical staff of a London hospital. One. of the surgeons. Jasper Sturdee, refuses to see the quack, whose kind lie roundly condemns, telling his colleagues about his own daughter, a cripple, who was maimed as a child by tho treatment of a quack. Ragatzy determines to cure the surgeon’s daughter, and induces her to place herself in his hands for a year. She dees so and she has to lie on the “rack,” Ragatzy’s patent appliance, for

scene in the last act when the crippled girl, cured, discovers her lover false, and incidentally* finds the man of her dreams in the person of the quack himself. Moscovitch, through a series of dramatic triumphs in the first and second acts, is said to stirpass himself in the closing scene. His fight to keep up the spirit of his patient, his deception to convince her that her lover remains true to her, and his tense emotion when the climax is reached, and he, declaring his love, makes the woman walk from her couch to his arms, is said to hold the audience spell-bound. Miss Jean Robertson as the crippled girl, Lalage Sturdee, is stated to give a delightful portrayal of the sensitive, artistic, and hearthungry girl longing for a healthy body. Her emotional appeals are finely- handled, and her performance is worthy of that of Moscovitch. The two principals will be supported by what is stated to be one of J. C. Williamson’s strongest companies. During the season “The Merchant cf Venice’’ and “The Great Lover” will be staged. The box plans will open at the Bristol on Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock.