The Washington times., 1931-02-16
DIRTY COMEDY
BY LISTLESS
COMPANY
By ANDREW r. KELLEY


"Strictly Dishonorable." IN e
Preston Sturges comedy which
ran for 18 months on Broadway
before exhausting its appeal for
metropolitan audiences, opened a
weeks engagement at the Ma
tional Theater last night.
It is a well-written play, filled
with deft characterization a n d
pretty evenly charged with bold
and saucy laughs, but its near
seduction" scene which is the
highlight of daring incident, was
played last night with such
blunt indelicacy, Strictly Dis
honorable" must be tabled with
those dramas most easily re-
called because they are down.
right smEtty.
Lacks Subtlety
Only the old ladies from Du.
buoue and the nasty minded will
find offense in bachelor apart
ment adventure which involves
an operati baritone undressing
sweet innocence and preparing
her fcr safe slumber. So we are
told in matured critical opinion
fresh from New York. Oh, we'll.
Then it must be the difference
between a first and a second
company for the disrobing inter
lude contrived by Flobelle Falr'
banks and Limo Manzoni last
night was dirty and disgusting
enough to be inserted without
amendment into the next Earl
carroll exhibition of erotica.
Whatever sparkle and luSter
"Strictly Dishonorable" possessed
In the New York version has been
dulled by travel and by assigning
to actors of mediocrity some OF
the playwright's brightest lines.
often it was as flat and uncon-
vincing as the Potomac water
which served for champagne, put
ALWAYS there lurked belief that
this company was not the one
which even Mr.. SturgeS would
award bay leaves.
LAID In SpedkcdSy
The action occurs in a new
York speakeasy, one OF the SIDE
street variety where a singer
from the MET" and a tippling
Judge occupy the upstairs apart.
ments. Into this rendezvous OF
alcoholic neighborliness comes
Henry Greene from West Orange,
N. j., and his little fiancee with
a Southern drawl, Isabelle Parry.
Soon Henry, a domineering and
surly chap, becomes involved IN
an argument because Isabelle
paws too close attention to the
polite compliments of Count D1
Ruvo, an opera singer. Henry
finally becomes so jingled he
fights with his Isabel and leaves
her to the cold mercy OF the
speakeasy populace. It is the
italian opera singer who offers
her the shelter of his apartment
with the frank announcement
that his intentions are strictly
dishonorable."
Acting Is Ordinary
Thereafter the scene shifts to
the singers habitat, where the
presence of hairpins, stocks OF
hosiery and silk pajamas indi-
cate a lack of loneliness. The
bibulous Judge who is comblna-
ton of a curious buttinsky and
a sentimental old chaperone, is
appalled, at the prospects. Isabel
is willing to become the victim
of a wild night but Count Di
Ruvo with a better respect for
virtue tosses her a Teddy bear
and decides to spend the night
with the judge. With innocence
preserved a happy ending is
neatly arranged.
Limo Manzoni as the opera
singer, although sparing in high
notes, did the best acting Of an
undistinguished cast. Flobelle
Fairbanks has a rich role but
destroyed much of it's appeal
by overemphasis on its brazen-
ness. The others appeared either
uninspired or tired out. In fact
what Strictly Dishonorable" ap-
pears to need right now is
stiff Prock peY1ohertoVo drccc 70