THEATRE ROYAL

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17247, 10 September 1921, Page 11

THEATRE ROYAL

"THBEE WISE FOOLS." , "Three Wis® J£ools," whiob *« staged for the first time at "tho Thoatre Boyal last night, falls a lons W »J" ®kort "Wolcome Stranger"— is, as far as the actual play is concerned. It has been announced mfc comedy-drama, but it might more lightly be described as molodrama, whllo, though it contains elements of comedy, nearly all tho humour is forced, and the relief is due to tiie actors and not to tho book. The play is replete with those impossible coincidences which one was wont to look for in the olatime molodiain*. There is nothing outstanding about tho Tarioua characters, none it which shows any great care or study in the drawing. A slight satire on confirmed bachelorhood is practically the only diatinotive idea o£ the whole place, and that is an idea, which has been worked to death in the p.ast. In "•Lightain 1 " and "Wtflcomb Stwtvget"' Mr John D. o'Har» had eome opportunity for showing his deveraeas m_* man" studies, but in "Three V/iw x oolb he has to mate hia own study out of vexj thin material. Tho story centres round twee more than middle-affed bachelors, who axe suddenly left a legacy by one with whom all three in their young days haw been on tare. The legacy is in the form of her daughter, who for a brief month brings brightness into the bachelor apartments, and then cornea the crash, the fair Sidney being strongly eua- | pected of being in league with a g&n« I oonviots. Everything, however, is straightI enod out in the old melodramatic atyle, and the, final curtain sees everybody happy. Naturally such material docs not gve muca scope for originality, but Mt O'Harj nw«> the most of the profane old banker, Theodore Findley. He acta with hia usual restraint, and hie quiet, humorous personality >» th« outstanding featuw of tno pl&Ti vhlcD> solely through his clover acting appears bettor than it really is. As the two others' m tie "Three Musketeers" combination, Messrs Arthur Cornell and Frederick Esmelion obtain all that is to bo got from their pafrts. Mr Cornell's Btudy of the prosy, technic*!, yet impressionable,'doctor, is an admirable ' ope, and, judging by the totally different park lie liftd in "Welcome Stranger,"'he"'■fifUst llK» h* classed as a actor of no mean, •degree. Mr Esmelton looked the part of the dignified judge, and again his elocution wis, irreproachable, but ho was really the earned > character as in the previous-(piece with , a different name. Mr Robert Tom? takes th« • juvenile he recites \rather than acts. Mr J. •B. Atholwood was exoellant■ as the' criminal, "Brainy, the Duck/' In fact, /■ though well past his prime, "Mr Atholwood continues to lend distinction t® Whatever role , he enacts. Messrs Thomas Lloyd and Thomas ! Foster' were stage detectives to the life, One 'is thankful, in fairness to the 'deftctitw forces of to-day, that only on the aUgtf, is the ''sleuth" obsequious, and only there does he persist in wearing his, hat, no matter how exclusive may be the private apartments Jin which he finds himself. Minor parte are • satisfactorily filled by Messrs Lester, diaries "White, and Sirie Btuh. There are only two ladies in the production. Tho chief part falls to Miss Dorothy Seacomhe, who is indeed a clever young acti«s«i • She can sparkle with youth when nroesaary, ~ond *he can be deeply emotional when occasion demands, and se Sidney Fairchild she has an opportunity of showing her 'versatility, which embraces with complete success; Miss Haw;aret Suteliffe g-Wesa clever little study of the servant. < "Three Wise pools'"' will 1» staged again to-ni;3il. .