Evening star., 1934-06-12

1t Is true most OF the audience VINO
sat in on the proceedings found their
risibilities worn to a fragile as the
final curtain was rung down last
evening on one Of the National Play
ers' top performances, but somehow
there seemed to be no complaints.
the comedy, finding it more refresh
ing than baWdy.
Sailor Bewarel" cannot be urged
upon you as the ideal diversion for
great-aunts or grandchildren. For all
others, especially those who prefer
merry and frank vulgarity to the
sentimental sex plays, it may be rec
commended, however, as a clever
comedy competently acted. Whatever
crimes it perpetrates against the
polite usages of the Kings English
are rnitigated by the fact the play
always is laughing at itself and
will be remembered for its humor
rather than its passions.
In the role of lady-killing COB who
finally meets his Waterloo, or his
Jutland, if you like, Roy Roberts led
off the histrionics for the National
Players last night in manner which
marked him as a subtle and vigorous
comedian. His was the principal
triumph of the evening. but Ruth Alb
bott as Billy 'Stonewan' Jackson,
Freddie Sherman as Barney Waters
and the cast almost down to the last
man shared the honors in full
measure.
All the hilarity in Sailor Beware!"
started because a certain Marine
pooh-poohed the Don Juan reputa-
ton of Chester Dynamite" Jones.
This rank unbeliever avowed that
Dynamite" was merely an anna
teur who always bet on the sure
thing. Incensed by the aSper-
sions cast on their hero of the
amorous arts, the bluejacket Lotharios
shipmates voiced their undying faith
in him with strong words and all the
betting money they could muster, and
stood by confidently while their pro-
tagonist battled manfully to prove
himself the master of one Billy jack
son, a dance hall hostess whose fame
was bruited far and wide.
While Dynamite" loosed one blast
after another of his notorious wileS,
"StonewaI' Jackson stood firm, until,
amid some of the funniest complica-
tionS seen hereaboutS in many sea-
sons, the great human bomb fizzled
out merely into another husband,
right glad to be that.
The dull moments are few and far
between in this skittish piece, but you
will not be certain of that during the
rr-hi Ioc cf
night by the inability of new men,
ber of the cast to remember his lines.
Thereafter the machine gathers mo-
mentum, and even in its minor mo-
ments is kept alive by the adept work
of John Shellie, as Matte Mathews;
Adelaide Hibbard, as the gariSh cafe
proprietor, and the other bit players
who deserve mention because in gen.
eral they contribute all that is asked
of them. They include George Cal
vert, Robert Dorsey, George w.
Smith, Romaine Calender, Edith
Speare, Mary Loane and half dozen
others. r. B. p, Jr.
X x x
T OOSE- -ENDSIANA from the film
studios includes the information
that Warner Bros First National have
in preparation screen versions of AN
thony Adverse" Hervey Aliens mara
thon of novel writing; Bruce Lock-
hart's British Agent" which is almost
completed, with Leslie Howard and
Kay Francis starring; Villa Gathers
one-time Pulitzer prize story, "a Lost
Lady" and even Charles Dickens
Tale of Two Cities" giving the nov
elistS first rank on the production
schedule for 1934-35.
Also, that a Sam Goldwyn produc-
ton for United Artists is featuring
Anna Sten and Gary Cooper in Bar