The presentation last night of Mr. Ashley Duke's dramati- zation
of Feuchtwanger's novel, Jew Siiss, with Moscovitch in the leading role, is something of a theatrical event in New York. The novel has been a best-seller in the United States, and the success of the play in London had whetted the appetite of playgoers here. In addition the reappearance of Moscovitch on the New York stage was eagerly anticipated. Moscovitch, who formerly played in the Yiddish Theatre here, left New York ten years ago and returns, after achieving fame abroad, to appear here for the first time as a distinguished English-speaking actor. His performance last night aroused the audience to enthusiasm and the play was a triumph as a spectacle. The dramatization, however, seems to miss the tremendous emotional force of the novel and to suffer, as other dramatizations of novels have done, from its episodical nature. Moscovitch's performance was characterized by great dignity and feeling, but the " Jew Siiss " who emerged was a simpler, kindlier figure than the colossal, subtle and sinister character portrayed by Feuchtwanger. New York hopes to see Moscovitch later as Shylock.
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