Shell Out

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

There is very little originality or good fun in this rather pretentious revue. It embodies various scenes 'done to death' already, starting with the idea that the thing has not been written and is dreamed by one of the actors. There is then a long scene of selling women’s clothes, chiefly done by a character called 'Cyril Moore' - presumably made up like Cyril Maude - and a 'flapper', played by a man - always rather an offensive thing. It is on the vulgar side but has nothing indecent in it. Some of the jokes are too cryptic of me (and for my colleague) as those marked on pp.7 and 19, but I do not suggest that there is any harm in them. We have also a scene of a policeman deceived by 'crooks' into thinking their robbery is a cinematograph proceeding; a scene of husband and wife quarrelling; a stage door scene, with the various people coming out (this is the best part of the piece) and the weariful restaurant scene with a comic waiter. There is also a scene of two women eating sweets with alcohol in them until they grow tipsy: it is not a pretty idea, but as it is written contains nothing that can be cut out. On the whole the dialogue, though vulgar, is not offensive and in the stage door scene is funny. The song s are of the usual sort: one of them 'Sprinkle me with kisses', I call attention to as being rather suspicious in its intention, but it is the sort of thing in which the author can refuse to admit that any harm is visible and it can hardly be censored. Another slightly suspicious thing is that several jokes are obliterated: it may be intended to put them back but one can hardly assume that. I notice that a song called 'Little Miss Lancashire' is missing and must be sent in if new. The same applies to the final number 'British artillery'. Otherwise the piece is Recommended for License. G. S. Street.