The Washington times., 1922-10-24

AAS S0cAs r
sos. WOOD. yr.s:I,ds AIlsa s.ss Dw.shs 4
ls'........... Ralph j. Locke
yseh y. sbie......... Charles RuggIes
Wits hnk. ....... Francis X. Coma .
Mrs, scoviiIs. Is........... Isabel Vernon
Euisiis scoyiiie. e........... .Norma Lee
=, b. seeviiie ;. Bernard A. Reinoid
Nick Nickopoaic:. @ ,@.... Boris Koriin
hlchsrd y: Powers. Louis Hendricks
Lotus neid. Lucille Nikolas
johnson ..... --....-. Earle Craddocd
THE amount Of entertainment
kick" which the average
playgoer will derive from this
new Nugent concoction win vary
In the degree of sophisticafion
with which IL 10 viewed. ~
One may readily conceive that
devout followers Of the Voistead
doctrine and BELIEF in its effective
enforcement viii turn thumbs
down on its adherence to naked
truth and even the women poll.
ticians and those who prefer the
retormer's cloak may cavil at It's
broad slaps for those who would
letter the universe, but even
these will find a laugh.
Much Is introduced In the
dialogue that savors of cross fire
comedy as the vaudeville players
like u. Intentionally smart. but
justified to sustain the even
threads OF comedy. "A Clean
Town" does not preach though
II is certain to be criticized as
propaganda by those who are
committed to less than two per
cent.
A small town is the locale OF
the story although it's incidents
are analogous to those found in
the average large city. The
mayor Of Defiance finds that the
efforts Of a reform prosecutor are
interfering with his political
plans and threatening his graft
from the Illicit liquor interests.
pointment of 4 Federal prohibi.
ton agent for the county who
will carry on by the rule of
reason" as eXpounded by the
bosses. This new dry sleuth hap
pens TO be newspaper man who
has-as he describes II, Got the
air" for being overzealous in his
employers interest. Gable, the
reporter-sieuth. has his individual
ideas Of enforcement. He's against
bad liquor but tolerably charitable
to the bootleggers who purvey
good stuff. But the owner of
the towns only newspaper. a col.
lege girl. 10 100 per cent Dry"
and an exponent of law and
order. She's In love with the
crooked mayor and Is close to
being compromised in her fight
for civic virtue before she dis
covers the duplicity Of her swain
and decides that Gable, the jour
naiist- st-detective can be more easily
moulded TO her ideals. An Incl
dental love theme provides much
Of the legitimate comedy.
Charles Ruggies. whose recent
Appearances have been in musical
comedy, In "Gable Of the Revenue
Department" As limned by this
player, ever nippant and facetious.
the character Is over-pert. Ere
quentiy the Nugent lines have a
punch that make the incidental
trimmings q superfluity. Never
theiess. Ruggies, while sometimes
too "fresh," II never dull. and for
that one can forgive much. Lucille
Nikolas makes a charming and
capable Lotus Reid" feminine
Newspaper proprietor. and Ralph
J. Locke looks and acts the part
of the mayor--no easy task. In a
long cast Of incidental players,
Frederick Truesdell. Norma Lee,
Francis X. Conlan, Scott Nc
Carthy. Leonard Doyle. Louis
Hendricks. Isabel Vernon. Allen
Dwight, Boris koriin, Allen Dwight
and Taylor Carroll gave competent
support.
As In 'Kempy." their earlier
play. the Nugents forget about
stereotyped methods to win smiles,
and since they accomplish an even
distribution for three acts In "A
Clean Town." why worry about
dramatic rules and formulas? It's
always interesting. Producer Hern-
don has given the production an
adequate mounting.-A. X.
STRAND-A snappy vaudeville
bill replete with clever comedy and
songs and dancing. coupled with a
delightfully."- entertaining picture
featuring Miss Shirley Mason,
combine to form a program at
the Strand Theater this week
that from the spectators view
point certainly leaves little to be
desired.
The vaudeville portion brings
Sophie Miller and Messrs. Simms
and Evans together, with two
other boys whose names are not
programmed but should be. In Lew
Cantor's presentation entitled
Stepping Around" and proving to
be q great dance number. Good
song numbers, special scenic set.
tings and bright new costumes
enhance the excellence Of the
showing.
Ergotti and Herman open with
"Snappy Bits Of Novelty Capers."
Warman and Mack In a song and
pianologue number follow, and al.
most stop the show before allowed
to retire. Henry Frey and Doro-
thy Rogers in THE interruption"
provide fifteen minutes Of mirth,
while Keating and Ross keep up
the good work with their offering,
THE Younger Generation. Shir.
ley Mason's picture is a gem.
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