Beauties

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This piece seems to depend, at least in the first part of it, on a clumsy and unpleasant suggestiveness, though there is not much which can be called definitely indecent. The best part, however is merely silly. The plot is confused. So far as it can be fathomed, a young painter is to be ruined if he does not paint a picture of the 'beauties' of different nations by a certain time, and is to be deprived of an inheritance if he paints a nude. A Welsh uncle and a woman engaged to the uncle plot to defeat him in both matters, but by the help of his maid-servant he frustrates them. There is a business of the introduction of young women of different nations with topical verses and allusions. The maid servant poses nude in one place, but as the audience see her only in light drapery there is no harm in that, I think (p.31). The following passages are more questionable: - 1. The man is in bed and hears the telephone. The stage direction says 'he goes to the pedestal, opens it and produces the telephone'. Almost certainly the audience is expected to anticipate a less presentable thing. The same idea is conveyed on page 4, where the valet 'puts his hand under the bed' etc. I think this business should be cut out. Pages 2 and 4. The business of taking off his pyjamas jacket and washing while the maid turns her back, and the jokes about the shirt and trousers, though not very dreadful, are I think, suggestive enough to go out. Page 7. The joke about the nude 'let's leave something for a surprise' - verges, at least, on the impermissible. With these reservations the piece is Recommended for license. G. S. Street.