The Three Kisses

Vesuvius bursts into flames and Andrea's boat sinks in the Bay and all the parties in the play devise absurd strategies to stop the curse.

But the doctor himself, Sir Cuthbert Bellamy, or the "Wizard of Wimpole Street" as he calls himself, is already in the neighbourhood with his friend Mr Gobbins as the guests of the Contessa Di Ravogli, who has also taken Marietta into her care until Andrea returns.

Doubtless he came to Mr Bantock who, pencil and notebook in hand, was dreaming over the ruins of Naples, and addressed him thus: "It's all very well, my dear sir, to have that volcano on in the first act.

This last behest is carefully - not to say punctiliously - obeyed, and Miss Ethel Irving's "Nelly Came to Naples" in no way encroaches on the province of Mme Calvé, nor do any of the other songs or numbers.

Yet Miss Irving is a real comedian, at any rate, and when she sees her chance she scores one, just as a crack shot shooting over the ground where there is not much game lets off even less than would have been the case in well-stocked coverts.

Nor can Mr Talbot, in his own field, complain of want of appreciation; his songs - "The Oranges" and "The Star of Sorrento" - were well received in the first act, and his treatment of the comic side of things have found hearty recognition in "The Conspirators" quintet.

The hero and heroine of this circular tale are Mr Lionel Mackinder and Miss Coralie Blythe, for we are informed, before the final fall of the curtain, that a string of corals surrounding the neck of the betrothed young woman had in reality preserved her from the consequences of the third kiss.

[5] A review in the Daily Mail said of the production: With the alluring title of The Three Kisses, the first new musical play of the new season started its career at the Apollo Theatre last night.

Although the authors, Messrs. Percy Greenbank and Leedham Bantock, have placed their story on the sunny slopes of the Bay of Naples and based it on a legend, they have not gone for their period to the good old times, but have preferred to take today, and with it the English visitors so useful - for contrast - in musical comedy.

The best quality in the entertainment is its music, and on that the composer can certainly be congratulated - "The Oranges," "The Home-coming," and "The Star of Sorrento" followed one another almost immediately at the opening of the first act, and if Mr. Talbot, who conducted his own score, had not been insistent each would have been encored at least once.

With a little time, however, some of the numbers will get a better effect, and with the comic scenes elaborated by Mr. Walter Passmore and Mr. Albert Le Fre there will be more laughter to carry the "business" through.