The Musical Comedy "Double Trouble"

IT seems that about once in two or three college generations someone comes to the front who possesses a musical ear, the facility of writing catchy tunes and a sense of the dramatic. For the past two years Charles B. Gaynor '29 has held this honor. In 1928 he, collaborating with Neal Dowe '28, produced "The Green Peach," which critics praised as one of the best undergraduatewritten musical comedies presented at Dartmouth in years. Prof. M. F. Longhurst, director of the last three Carnival shows, deserves great praise for the fine results he has secured. "Double Trouble" "is the work of Gaynor alone. This writer, being somewhat steeped in sports to the saturation point, became very much interested in the musical comedy game, and being of an inquisitive nature, wanted to find out just how a college musical comedy is made, how it goes, and all the attendant facts that are attached thereto. He saw the half of the first presentation at Carnival time, having to leave on account of a Harvard basketball game, but went the following night and saw the whole show again.

Then Washington's Birthday came along, and the announcement was made that a third showing would be given. The leading man, Milt Lieberthal '32, was suddenly rushed to Dick Hall's House with one of those things that freshmen will catch—measles. Whereupon Mr. Warner Bentley, who has spent this year as a professor and guiding light for the Experimental Theatre, was handed the manuscript of "Double Trouble" 24 hours before the performance and was told that he would have to play the leading role. Being an admirer of Mr. Bentley's work, this writer went and saw the show again.

By the time Easter vacation had rolled around, the Players had announced a formidable trip, which would carry them from Boston to New York, and from Vassar to Smith with Hartford and New Rochelle thrown in, and there being no imminent signs of athletic contests on the horizon, we decided to rig up the Ford—a truly marvelous vehicle —andgoalongtoo. So by this time we feel competent to say a few words about "Double Trouble," and even step into any of the roles if necessary. And this musical comedy business turned out to be a very interesting game.

I was sitting one very gray wintry afternoon in the Dartmouth office when my genial classmate, Fred Burleigh, dropped in. After agreeing that the Class of 1928 was not so particularly dumb inasmuch as they had three men on the faculty—Fred being one—the conversation turned to "Double Trouble," one of Fred's pet subjects. If any man outside of Professor Long- hurst has more to do with the producing of a musical comedy than Burleigh, he has yet to make himself known. As soon as "The Green Peach" finished its run last year, plans were already on foot for the 1929 show. Trials and tribulations follow, and it is no easy matter to transform a score of college students into dainty chorus girls and leading ladies. Burleigh even went so far as to stand by the door of Freshman Commons for two weeks, notebook in hand, taking down the names of likely looking prospects. Even with the personnel intact, February examinations will take their toll, and sometimes parts have to be learned all over again. But after the Hanover performances the show prepares to go on the road, and that is where the fun begins.

The Boston affair was a tremendous undertaking. The Opera House was selected as the site of the first production, and someone declared that Webster Hall could have been comfortably placed on the stage with plenty of room to spare. But the crowd was enthusiastic and the alumni gave the whole business their hearty support. The performance in Melrose, Mass., was one of the best received during the trip, and a rousing reception was given to each number.

A showing was given in New Rochelle, N. Y., but we stopped the Ford in Hartford and waited for the Players to strike that city. For two days Dartmouth men scattered over Hartford, and for two days a dismal Connecticut rain descended. The Garde Hotel was the general meeting place, and the Green thespians mingled with local politicians and travelling salesmen, the latter two classes being pretty hard to tell apart.

The Hartford performance was given at a local club, and a very good attendance was recorded, perhaps due to the efforts of a surprisingly large number of alumni residing in the environs of the city. Editor Sherman of the Courant, a Dartmouth man, attended, as did the dramatic critic of that paper. Consequently the Courant had some very nice and generous things to say about the show in their morning issue.

The toot to Poughkeepsie was rather hectic for this writer, who is used to following football teams about with a mechanical schedule. The company was packed into two huge interstate busses, which travel at an amazing speed over the highways. They go about 45 miles an hour on the level and once hit 55 going down the hills. This would be an interesting fact in itself, but it was more so to us, for the old Ford travelled between the two busses most of the way. The next morning was spent in tightening up all the nuts and bolts and replacing two gaskets which had been blown.

Girls' colleges are funny things. We discovered that Vassar laughed at things that didn't get a giggle out of Smith, and vice versa. Vassar howled at the experience of one of the characters who "went to Smith to become emancipated," while the Smith audience could see nothing funny whatsoever in it. While stopping in Poughkeepsie, Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York stayed at our hotel, and most of the party were able to get a glimpse of a man who may be a future . . . but then no politics in this story.

All of these performances are individual promotions by fellows who guarantee the Players so much and then go ahead and take care of the publicity themselves. Accordingly the Ford started for Northampton a day early, and we spent an entire afternoon ballyhooing the city for the final performance of the trip, as a very good friend of this writer was promoting the affair. Every trolley car was placarded, and every store of consequence carried signs. Amherst and Smith were canvassed, and the job was done up thoroughly brown.

Mrs. Calvin Coolidge was the guest of honor for the evening at perhaps the best attended and executed performance of the trip. She was accompanied by her close friends, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Hills, and they congratulated Charlie Gaynor after the performance.

"Double Trouble" has a very well-rounded cast. Old timers on the Dartmouth stage such as James Hodson '29, Jack Yellin '29 and Joe D'Esopo '29 fitted nicely with the freshman element, Milt Lieberthal '32, Addison Roe '32, Arthur Mayes '32, Whitman Daniels '32 and Carl Wright '32. Other people having leading parts were Abner Epstein '31, Ross Hughes '29, Richard Johnson '29 and Walker Wiggin '30. For the most part the senior-freshman combination held and this representation for the highest and lowest classes is inexplainable except that it usually happens. The Boston Post, in a front-page article, described the show in this manner: "The story of the musical show, possessing a remarkable unity surpassing many current professional shows, is a satirical play upon the plot of the Graustark tales. It Was given before a generous and enthusiastic audience."

The beautiful Sunday morning spent at Smith was well utilized by the cast. They rode bicycles all over town with the Smith students, and floated lazily upon Paradise Pond in canoes. There were dinner dates and supper dates, and it was with the usual reluctance that the party finally left. A last-minute performance in Lebanon capped the trip.

"Double Trouble" will probably be given for the last time on Commencement Day this June, and then it will go the way of "The Green Peach." There is already talk in Hanover, however, of holding a revival of these two remarkable shows in future years, so possibly they will not be altogether in the discard.

A VOICE FROM THE PAST: A TABLEAU "FRANK AND CHARLOTTLE FORTESQUE" FROM THE DARTMOUTH MUSICAL COMEDY "DOUBLE TROUBLE". LEFT TO RIGHT: JOHN ELLIOT, JAMES HODSON, LOUIS HEAVENRICH AND ABNER EPSTEIN

MILTON LEIBERTHAL HAS LEADING PART IN THE 1929 DARTMOUTH MUSICAL COMEDY, "DOUBLE TROUBLE"

JOE D'ESOPO '29 AND WALKER WIGGIN '30 IN THEIR POPULAR NUMBER "ROUGH STUFF!"

THE PONY CHORUS OF "DOUBLE TROUBLE" THE DARTMOUTH PLAYERS' MUSICAL COMEDY IN THE LATEST OF CHORINE COSTUME STYLES