Yes, I see beginnings of the Hitchcock touch in this sequence. First the view of the performers from the side of the stage with the column and curtain in the foreground and the humor of Mr Hamilton smoking in front of the Smoking Prohibited sign. I agree that we see elements, themes and approaches that become more developed in Hitchcock's later films. I think silent films in general require a more exaggerated approach to creating a tone or a mood in a film. When using a spoken dialogue, the tone can be developed subtly. I relate it to the way we use texting today. When texting you have to be exaggerated with your tone to insure that the reader interprets the text in the manner intended. You sometimes use pictures, emoticons or exaggerated punctuation/capitalization. Whereas if you were having a conversation, the listener would absorb the tone in your delivery without requiring shouting, exaggerated hand gestures or pictures.
