THE "THREE TWINS"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 113, 6 February 1919, Page 6

THE "THREE TWINS"

LAUGHABLE FARCE WITH MUSIC. "The Three Twins," a musical farce in two acts, by Mrs. Pachoo and Charles Dixon. Cast:— Tom Stanhope William Greene General Stanhope Field Fisher Dick Winters Cyril Kitchard Ned Mayland ...: Fred. Maguira Harry Winter 6 Harry B. Burcner Mathew '■■ Jack Hooker Murray Syd. Ealfo Br. Sawyer Cumniing Alfred Frith Kate Armitage Cecil Bradley Molly Summers ._ Oracle Lavers Isabel Howard Flossie LuskBessie Winters Queenie Savage Bichard Winters Thelma Bqfnett Mrs. Dick Winter 3 Maude Beatty The AVilliamson Musical Comedy Company, which is enjoying a boom season in Wellington, were seen in an old faTce in a new dressing when it presented "The Three Twins" at the Grand Opera House last evening. Of recent years in the hunt for a story with some semblance of plot, devisers of musical comedy are looking up some of the old farcical comedies, and dressing up their rattling bones with the frills and trills of musical comedy. Having in mind the giddy array of hoary old banalities which have' done duty in this respect for many years past, the idea is not a bad one, for the farce writers of a couple of years ago knew their business. "The Three Twins" is that quick-fire, don't-stop-and-think farce "Tom, Dick, and Harrv," introduced to New Zealand in Hie misty past by Mr. W. F. Hawtrev.We all laughed heartily enough at the confusion caused by the similarity in appearance of the twins, 1 Harry and Dick Winters, and that gay masquerader, Tom Stanhope. 1 The latter finds that his flippant addresses to Kate Armitage are not favourably regarded by his dyspeptic father,' General Stanhope, so chanoihg to'find a photograph on the beach of a summer resort, he makes up as its counterpart, and riotous confusion follows in hi 3 . wake. . Tom mistaken by a, buxom Niobe- for her husband, and for .the fiance of a giggling flapper, and in turn ■Miss Armitage finds herseirembracing the'wrong man at every turn. The second act. in which the joke is inclined to pall a .little, finds the fun transferred to the private sanatorium for mental' inepls of Dr.. Sawyer dimming, where; the pursuit of the truth is continued until it is time to catch the cars for home. The entertainment is, up to a point, the frankest, jolliest, and loudest farce, livened with plenty of action, some good mumming, clever lighting,effects, dainty, well-dressed ballets* and some really pretty musical numbers, which have little, or nothing to do with the argument. The company is done justice to it is stated that the farcical interest -was never allowed to flag, and laughter unconstrained and hearty filled the big auditorium with almost unbroken continuity. That consistently bright and brisk performer,' Mr. William Greene/ showed a breezy vein of comedy as the dashing Tom Stanhope. Mr., Greene acts with the zest of perfect enjoyment, and his prepossessing personality and quickcomedy sense make him deservedly popular with audiences. His chippy 6tyle and correct touch in "The Avenue Brigade" and "Bachelor Days" made those numbers acceptable, while his. burlesque "Romeo and Juliet" stunt with Miss Bradley, was excellent fooling Miss Cecil ,Bradley is better suited than in any of the other pieces played during the season. Her Kate Armitage was a real jolly girl, through and through, and she sang the pretty ballads "Caroline" and "Cuddlo Up a Little Closer" with just the proper. 6avour. The latter number introduced rather ingeniously lovei'3 of all ages in tho cuddlesomo mood of the lyrics. Miss Gracio Lavers had little to do as Molly Summers (Harry' 6 fiancee), and Miss Maude Beatty extracted a lot of broad comedy as the tear-soaked Mrs.. Dick. Winters. Mr. Field Fisher, wearing a sweeping but fractious grey moustache; gave one of his admirable character studies''as the.peppery General Stanhope, ana the'reiterant humour of the second act was alleviated considerably by the attentions/ of Dr. Sawyer Cumming, most comically characterised by Mr. Alfred Frith. Mr. Harry Burcher and Mr. Cyril Ititchard figured as the bearded Twins,' and Mr. Fred Maguire in the colourless part of Ned Mayland gobbled his lines into incomprehensibility. That very charming and shapely dancer Miss Madgo Elliott, in association' wth Mr. Jack Hnsker, displayed daring grace and agility in a bizarre elaboration of the giddy two-stop. Mr. Hasker is an acrobatic dancer of distinct ability, aud with Mr. Tom Preston gave a comic display of eccentric dancing that found full favour. Among the best nunNiers were "Wattle Day," "Dream Boat," and "The Ynma Yama Mr. Harry Burton conducted, and Mr. Haydn Beck led an efficient orchestra. "Th'o Three Twins" will be played again this evening, and "You're in Love" will be revived to-morrow, evening and on Saturday.