"TWIN BEDS."

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2917, 1 November 1916, Page 3

"TWIN BEDS."

A CAPITAL FARCICAL COMEDY

1 Will Beds," a farcical comedy in tnrco aels, by Salisbury Field and* Margaret Mayo. Cast:— , Harry Hawkins Hale Hamilton Blanche: Hawkins Myrtle Tanneliill oignor Monti Afaurico Dudley Andrew Larkin Donald Bowles Amanda Larkin Nancyo Stewart oignora Jlonti Celia Ghiloni .Marion Marcus Clarko It is a long timo since a Wellington audience enjoyed a farcical coinedv as »»ni • a . s 1% ou 9 that witnessed I win .Beds" at tho Grand Opera Houso last ovoning, Tho American, authors i , c a pago out of t'ho fashion book of tho makers of French farce of twenty years ago, and twisting it into American shape, and eliminating its nastiness, havo succeeded in concocting a real screamer. It is written in a 6priglitV - V ?V n ' a^x>uu^s that racy wit which brightens so many emanations from Broadway, is easy and smooth-gliding in its action, find best of all, the fun. waxes right up to the drop of tho curtain, bomo may consider tho ico a littlo thin jii placcs, but it never breaks, and the Jaughter that comes in gusts and ends in & hurricano is healthily generated. p Mr. and Sirs. Hawkins occupy a flat in JNew York apartments. Being of- a very genial, gossipy disposition tho lady ■ 6°oti gets to know everyone in tho-big building, and her hospitality finds expression in numerous tango parties. To these her husband objects, particularly as an I Italian, tenor, Signor Monti, pays mark- ! attention to his wife. Mrs. Monti is 1 a verjr real person, who has lifted him ■ irorn tho cabaret to grand opera stardom, and keeps a wary and humorous I Having built now premises, the landlord of the apartments has induced all his tenants, unknown to one (mother, to move up-town. The Hawkinses have installed twin beds in their suite, and one njgnt the tenor, losing Jiis bearings under tho iniiuenco ot too much chianta, turns into ono of the beds, with. Airs. Hawkins snoozing comfortably in the other. Then Air. Hawkins puts in an appearance; at the same time Aliw. Monti has put detectives on tho trail ofher erring nuaband, while tho coupio below insist that there are burglars in the house. Hero there is a cataract of action; explanations lead only io misunderstandings, doors are slammed, clothes aro whirled round, and there is a general maelstrom of complication that is irresistibly funny. '^ 6 was admirably droll as Mr. Hawkins, who does not understand his wife's ideas of being pleasant to people.* The character is very human in its storms of rage and bursts of sugary repentance, and tne breezy comedian goc every ounce out of the part. As the ultra-genial lady, whose innocence is made too palpable for any but a very young and jealous husband to perceive, Miss Tanneliill was delightful, and tho maimer in which sho prepared for tne night in the bedroom scene, and- her subsequent adventures with a perfectly innocent intruder, were managed with a delicaoy and tact that left no taint of ooarseness. Miss Celia Ghiloni, as Mrs. Monti, the volcanic and slangy wife of the ''temperamental" tenor, made a palpable hit. This actress has given pleasure ' in many farcical excursions in the past, but she has never done anything quite no good ns "Signora" Monti. The unoi fonding tenor was comically sketched by Mr. Maurice Dudley, whose "business" in. tho going-tfcbed sceno was provocative of uproarious laughter. As the Irish servant, with a fine gift of repartee when stung to it. Miss Marion Clark was effec-, tive. Her every exit was a scream. Miss' Nancye Stewart, as Amanda Larkin, ami Mr. llonald Bowles as her hand-fed husband, were also concerned in the flat riot. The farce is expensively mounted and produced in the very best Williamson stylo. "Twin Beds" "will bo performed again to-night and to-morrow night. His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool intend to bo piesent at this evening's performance. 'The late train to Trentlmm will again bo delayed to enable 6oldiers to atleiul the performance.