Strictly Dishonorable

Strictly Dishonorable (1929), a comedy by Preston Sturges. [Avon Theatre, 557 perf.] When Isabelle Parry (Muriel Kirkland), a sweet Southern belle, is deserted by her churlish escort, Henry Greene (Louis Jean Heydt), at a New York speakeasy, she finds herself there with only two other men, Count Di Ruvo (Tullio Carminati), a Metropolitan Opera star known affectionately as Gus, and the avuncular Judge Dempsey (Carl Anthony), who lives above the nightclub. Anxious for some fun, she accepts Gus's offer to spend the evening with him, even though he assures her his intentions are strictly dishonorable. But as the evening progresses Gus finds himself falling in love. When Henry returns contritely, he is asked to wait in the car. Isabelle tells Gus that she, too, is in love. Not willing to miss his opportunity, Gus says his only condition is that he wants four sons and seven daughters. The Judge offers to tell Henry not to wait any longer. This charming, graceful comedy was the only Broadway success by Preston STURGES [né Edmond P. Biden] (1898–1959), although many critics had admired his The Guinea Pig (1929). After two more failures, Rapture (1930) and Child of Manhattan (1932), he became a famous Hollywood writer and director. He returned to the theatre in the 1950s with two unsuccessful musicals, Make a Wish (1951) and Carnival in Flanders (1953).