“THE FAKE,” STRONG DRAMA, WITH DOPE FIEND AS HERO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18056, 17 January 1927, Page 9

“THE FAKE,” STRONG DRAMA, WITH DOPE FIEND AS HERO.

MOSCOVITCH OPENS TO FULL HOUSE IN CH’CH. ‘The Fake," a play In three act?, by Frederick l/onsdale, wan presented by the Maurice Moscovitch Company In the Theatre Ttoyal on Saturday night. Mr Ilesketh Pointer— THE OAST. Sir Thomas Moor Ernest Stanton, M.r.2' r G ”° rß ' Blunt HOP" Mr’iSdS; Mrs ITesketh Pointer— Mavis Stanton Mrt snnioii ,Mr J. H. Atholwood I - M,ss Margaret Murray Geoffrey ’sandos- -" ’ Mr Xnt Madlso!, Walt°rls7 aid ' waiti s Miss Ellen Pollock

• ■ , ‘}’ UeS -^ gate ’ London critic, wrote m his recently published survey of ™ odern En ßlish stage, that London would be no poorer, socially, if all the characters from Lonsdale's,. Arlen’s and Thai']? S w ? re dumped into the Ihames and left there to drown That was his protest against the neurotic puppets that peopled the plays written by these men. However in his general attack, he did admit that Lonsdale, witn his marvellous theatrical sense, was able to create an illusion of lsimiiitude out of the most oreposterous situation. It is unfortunate that men so fitted for dramatic writing mUTT- and Lonsdale should spend " T,tm * P !a >-s the fashion tor which must surely change. Hut in The Fake” Lonsdale has written a good drama. It has strength, and grips the attention of the audience. It ls . a play Perfectly constructed, and. although there are occasions when a melodramatic touch might easily be introduced, Lonsdale has had artistry enough to deny himsell the indulgence. Ills theme is simple, and the situation as a whole is a convincing one. There

is a pleasing freedom from strain as the plot develops, and one has a feelmg that the dramatist has succeeded fusion. His characters have vitality, and though they are, for the most part, obnoxious people, one feels that they do breathe. Lonsdale has dramatic skill, keen wit, and an exhilarating mental robustness. . 'T^ e Fake ”is a play with a setting in high, one might feel like saying, rank life. Ernest Stanhope, M.P., a gentleman with social and political ambition, marries his daughter to the degenerate second son of a peer. This unwholesome young Romeo is a drunkard and dope-fiend with ungovernable temper, and a passion for inflicting pain upon others. After the wedding in comes Geoffrey Sandos. a cosmopolite, who is Stantons business agent in foreign parts. He has knowledge of Gcrrard Pillick’s deficiencies, and he tells the girl's father all about them, and has the pleasure of hearing himself called a liar for his pains. Time, however, proves the truth of his words, and the spirit of Mavis Pillick is almost broken. Sandos, who feels that he has done little enough with life, finds that his existence would be justified if he removed Pillick from the world. A little trip to the seaside is arranged, and when Pillick refuses to respond to the Sandos suggestion that he. should commit suicide, Sandos gives him an overdose his favourite «drug—exit Gerrard. Everybody believes that Pillick committed suicide, but Sandos tells Lord Stanton (he had become a peer in the meantime) what really happened, and defies him to ring up Scotland Yard. My Lord decides that there has been trouble enough already, and the play ends with a promise of happiness for Mavis Pillick and the handsome Under-secretarv. who had been her shadow through the years of tribulation.

Maurice Moscovitch is remembered by Christchurch audiences as an actor of virility. lie is a man of dominating personality, and one always feels his presence on the stage, lie is a theatrical medium, and through him the character he is representing passes over to the audience as a person of flesh, blood and spirit. As Geoffrey Sandos he gave a vigorous study of a man full of worldly knowledge, kindness and contempt for the shams of life. Mr Ken Brandon was excellent as the suave, calculating politician. Mr Nat Madison was faced with a difficult task in giving a convincing study of the neurotic scoundrel Pillick, but he managed to bring out the essentia! elements of a miserable, complex character with a skill which left no doubt as to his acting ability. Miss Kcrrie Kelly gave a good study of the harassed wife, and Miss Eileen Sparks did a small piece of work marked with engaging vitality. Miss Ellen Pollock gave a first-rate character study. Jt wa* strong, but not exaggerated, and one person at least looks forward with relish to seeing her again. Miss Margaret Murray showed herself a cultivated actress in the part of Mrs Stanton. The smaller parts were adequatelysustained.

“The Fake” will be presented again to-night.