“GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 59, 3 December 1926, Page 15

“GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES

PLAY PRODUCED IN NEW YORK. This business of the male sex preferring blondes has now gone another stage in its crazy journey across two continents, says a New York writer under date September 29. In short, a comedy entitled “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, an adaptation of the book of that name, was given for the first time in New York /last (light. Its actual premiere was some weeks ago, out'in the wilds of Chicago. The very clever adaptation has been made by Miss Anita Loos herself. helped by her husband, John Emerson. The play was a great success. Personally, T found it one of the funniest and most interesting comedies I have seen in years; funny because the lines were spoken so amusingly, and interesting because the comedy brought an almost new type of play to the stage. For “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” introduces us to a comedy which dares to bold up its actionless plot for the purpose of getting off some tickling lines. Those numberless people who have read the book will, no doubt, wonder how it has all been done. Well, it is all very simple. Act 1. The Royal suite of an ocean liner Lorelei and her girl friend. Dorothy, set in a sumptuous decor. Several of Lorelei’s girl friends are abroad; also the Beekmans of the British aristocracy, Sir Francis Beekman and Lady Beekman: the former richlv characterised by our own long-lost G. P. Huntley, who has been knocking about the Atlantic seaboard several years. Lorelei, out of range of her Mr- Eisman. now weaves her web for both Sir Francis and the sea-and-love-sick Mr. Spqffard, the hypocritical Puritan of Philadelphia. By the time that the second act is reached she has been in London (unfortunately this period is skipped over hurriedly), bought and paid for Lady Francis Beekman’s diamond tiara with money given to her by Sir Francis, and is now installed nt the Ritz in Paris, with Monsieur Cotv around the corner: not to mention Monsieur Cartier. Tn Paris there is trouble with old Lady Beekman over that little matter of the diamond tiara, but the trouble is safely skated over, while Mr. Spoffard becomes more entangled than ever. But Me. Eisman turns up unexpectedly. However, the ever-thoughtful Lorelei gets rid of Gus right away by taking him to lunch at a re-taurant where the s. i, ls guaranteed fo give ptomaine poisoning. Act TIT. Back in New York. A three days’ wild party is almost ending, and Lorelei is now pledged fo Mr. Spoffard, and buying lovely jewels and having them charged to her fiance. Poor Mr. Eisman, dejected over the loss of his Lorelei, almo-'t spoils the fun: but. of course she manages to spoon him, Mr. Spoffard, and all the Spoffard family. The curtain falls upon happine-s and sun-bine. It is said that this play is scheduled for production in London. If so. it is certain that tbe three references to the late King Edward, the Queen, and the Prince of Wale-- will be cut out by “the Lord Chamberlain. Although the part of T.orelei was done superbly by Juno Walker. memory treasures the girl who played Dorothy, elbowing her wav through three acts with that shattering, frozen-faced, realistic wisdom which saves American eentimentalily from itself.