If musical comedy is meant to put no strain upon the intelligence of the audience neither need it do so upon that of the dramatic reporter. It docs not do to analyse too closely wherein the entertainment consists or one might be com pelled to confess that the "Three Twins" is musically rather thio and as a comedy so involved that one cannot quite tell what it is about—except that "Tom Stanhope" in order to win the girl of his choice dresses up as the third of two twins, which involves him in a series of complications with the wife of one and fiancee of the other two, everything, however, coming straight at the end. But the whole presentation certainly pleased the attdience. The colour effects were very pretty, great care had been spent in thinking them out and though musical comedy is rather a severe strain on amateurs, requiring that they shall both sing, dance and act, the piece went with plenty of vigour and abundant applause. It would be absurd to expect Daly's or ¢Gaiety standards and those who go looking for them will be disappointed. As an amateur production the "Three Twins' 1s distinctly above the average for pieces of this kind and_ reflects much credit on the management and company. What one chiefly feels is that the play itself is rather a long way down in the descent from the old musical comedy and perilously near to its final eclipse in the banalities of revue.
As Tomi Stanhope Mr. Donne has the lion's share and worked tremendously hard. The hypnotic waltz in the second act with Miss Limby, she doing her part very prettily, was one of the best numbers of the evening. The "Bug" dance with the chorus was also attractive, the costumes quaintly designed and the lady dancers doing their work effectively. The chorus altogether was good and much better drilled than in some productions, but the grouping of the oarsmen in the first scene needs improvement. They were standing anyhow last night. Mr. Eric Prince played the part of General Stanhope and, with his known talent for character parts, it need hardly be said that he did it 'The only criticism is that his game leg disappears miraculously in sitting down, which is not the way of game legs. As a whole the part ranked with Mr. Speelman's Dr. Hartman as the two best in the play. Mr. Speelman was really excellent,' and his singing was an object lesson to others in the cast. He did not bother himself over niceties of voice production but he essentially "got it over." Mr. G. C. and Mr. R. W. Wingrove did nicely as the two real twins and really looked quite enough alike across the footlights to justify the confusion on the stage. Mr. Me Murray played agreeably as Ned Moreland and was well partnered with Miss Dunne, who was a pleasant and lady-like Isabel the heiress. Mrs. Allison, as Mrs. Winters the weeping lady, had a part which it_ was rather beyond her to make convincing. The "tyranny of tears" needs careful management if it is not to appear overdone, on stage as in life. Miss Howe's song "Cuddle up a Little Closer" was popular but it was not easy to get the words which are necessary to an understanding of the chorus's entry. Miss Limby, as the laughing damsel, acted ' freshly and pleasingly throughout.
The mounting was brilliant and the second scene in Dr. Hartman's sanitarium was extremely effective. Special mention should be made of the conducting of Mr. Jack Raynes. He does it as if he loved it and knowing thoroughly how musical comedy should be taken, he, carries it through with a splendid swing.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.