The Three Kisses
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The Three Kisses: A West End Edwardian Rarity
"The Three Kisses" premiered at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre in the West End on August 25, 1925, a late Edwardian musical comedy that ran for a modest 81 performances, closing on November 7, 1925. With music by Lionel Monckton and Philip Braham, a book by Fred Thompson and Percy Greenbank, and lyrics by Greenbank, this George Dance production starred Binnie Hale and Walter Williams. Adapted from the French play "Le Carillon" by Alexandre Bisson and Edmond Gondinet, it offered a fleeting taste of romance and whimsy. Though overshadowed by longer-running contemporaries, it reflects the West End’s enduring appetite for lighthearted fare in the mid-1920s.
A Tale of Love and Magical Chimes
The plot follows Dick, a young man smitten with Margot, whose father a bell-founder guards a set of enchanted chimes that grant three kisses to their ringer before breaking. Dick secures work in the foundry to win Margot’s heart, but her father promises her to a wealthy suitor, Monsieur Bon-Bon. Undeterred, Dick rings the chimes, sparking a cascade of comedic mishaps and romantic entanglements. A rival, Gendarme Dupont, and a cast of quirky villagers complicate matters, but love prevails as the chimes’ magic unravels secrets and unites the couple in a joyful finale, blending French charm with Edwardian humor.
Music That Rang Briefly
Lionel Monckton’s score, enriched by Philip Braham’s contributions, features lilting melodies like “The Three Kisses” and “Ring Out the Chimes,” paired with Greenbank’s playful lyrics. The music echoes the era’s taste for tuneful simplicity, with romantic duets and ensemble numbers evoking a quaint village soundscape. Conducted by Leonard Hornsey, the songs aimed to charm rather than endure, lacking the staying power of Monckton’s earlier hits like “The Quaker Girl.” While pleasant, the score faded quickly, leaving no lasting imprint beyond its brief West End run.
A Cast of Twenties Talents
Binnie Hale led as Margot, her bright soprano and comedic flair lighting up the stage, fresh from successes like “No, No, Nanette.” Walter Williams played Dick with earnest appeal, supported by Fred Emney as the bell-founder and George Grossmith Jr. as the pompous Bon-Bon. Violet Gould brought sass as a village flirt, and the ensemble filled out the French setting with lively charm. Directed by Charles Reisner, the cast delivered a polished performance, though their talents couldn’t extend the show’s run against fiercer competition like “Rose Marie.”
A Short-Lived Edwardian Echo
"The Three Kisses" arrived in a bustling 1925 West End season, competing with imports like “The Vagabond King” and homegrown successes. Its 81-performance stint reflects a lukewarm reception, perhaps due to its familiar formula outshone by flashier rivals. No Broadway transfer or major revival followed, and it vanished from repertoires post-1925, surviving only in theatre annals and a few sheet music relics. A minor work in Monckton’s catalog, it nonetheless captures the West End’s knack for spinning fleeting magic from romantic trifles.