The Washington times., 1931-12-29
New Drama
Opens at
BeIasco

A charmingly sophist I'll Gated
comedy-drama. at once glittering-
ly daring end sparkling in its in
triguing appeal, is hidden under
the altogether disarming title of
Jewel Robbery" this weeks fare
att the ShUbert, Belasco and the
sole Theatrical attraction of the
week..
Adapted, the program tells us,
by Bertram Block from the Hun,
garian of Laszlo Fodor, which
means little to the casual theater'
goer, unless one takes into con.
sideration the added statement of
the publicists that it. is proven
European success.
Ina Jewel Shop
But it is no tax On the patience
of the audience to-, await the un
folding of the plet-not that by
any means this may quickly be
summed up in such trite forms as
melodrama. mystery drama or
Such-wE certainly said "sophiSti-
Gated" in the first line!, The cur
tain rises on the interior of a
jewelry store ir Vienna. such a
jewelry store as one might find in
Fifth Avenue. Nothing garish, but
tasteful displays of necklaces,
tiarras, rings and such with plate
IN the background.
Teri, we are told, wife of Franz,
a VienneSe banker. is soon to ar
rive with her husband to claim an
internationally famous diamond,
Of almost unbelievable karatage
(can one say karatage0, a sort
OF peace offering for certain peca-
i dilloes on the part of aforesaid
husband whose armourS are ap-
parently typically Viennese: She
comes, late as usual, shortly fol
lowed by Franz and in turn by
Paul, member of the Hungarian
cabinet, and latest admirer. But
there is no clash for apparently
Viennese husbands are accustom-
ed to that sort of thing!
Comes the Robbery
Just as the sale is consumated,
other customers enter the fore
most shortly produces a gun and
calmly announces that he is a
robber not thief; there is ap-
parently a fine distinction. With
a savoir faire quite admirable, he
quickly clears the establishment
of its entire stock, keeps proprie
ter and patrons quiet under the
spell of his brilliant small talk.
even induces the. unSuspecting
watchman to help his &C
completes carry away the loot,
locks the men in the safes, and
prepares to take his leave-but
there's Teri. She, just won't be
locked UP, she won't be gagged.
she won't go wtttr him and" even
when he takes the much-coveted
. diamond. she lets him escape, for
she's Teri-andl he's. different.
Teri Is Accused
With unhearda of brapado, the
charming stranger turns up in
Teri'S apartment four hours later.
AS a detective calls to question
her concerning her strange part
in the robbery, she, hides him, but
she is accused as an accomplice,
he is discovered and both are
taken away-but not to police
station, after all, but to his apart
ment, for the master crook has
succumbed to her charms and she,
with her inherent love for jewels,
greater than her love for love,
coquette that she is, finds herself
at the point of capitulation when
but why reveal. more Of a plot
that is at once SO sparkling and
so daring in its dialogue?
Mary Ellis as Teri finds herself
cast in role inLwhich she seems
to fairly revel. Without her, one
hesitates to think Just what might
happen. She has charm and
L,itte-: and comprehension.
And opposite her, Basil Sydney,
gives an Interpretation that lends
perfect understanding to her
eventual solution, broadly limited, =.
at the least, of her dilemma
Both acquit themselves brilliantly.
Fine Direction
Tasteful settings naturally
accompany production of this
sort and splendid direction is
demonstrated in the work of the
cast that of Cora Witherspoon,
Clarence Derwent, Stuart Casey.
Lionel Brahan, Robert Vivian
and Eugene Powers being out
standing. :-->
But the title Jewel Robbery"
seems altogether too simple not
to be masking under a dual
,entendre. Had there been
fourth act, laid in Nice two days
later-ah well, these Viennese!