About the Play:

Three Men on a Horse is a full-length comedy by John Cecil Holm and George Abbott. A meek greeting-card writer has a knack for picking the winning horse at the race track, which brings him to the attention of some gamblers down on their luck, in this Depression-era farce. One of the most successful comedies of the American Theatre – an all-time favourite with community theatres.

Three Men on a Horse takes place in the 1930s, a decade of lingering economic depression, prohibition, and speakeasy bars with gambling and gang-related crime. Erwin Trowbridge sometimes chafes at suburban life, and at his rather uninspiring job of writing greeting card slogans for a boss who pays small wages. One day Erwin, fed up with his wife and brother-in-law, instead of going to the office, makes his way to a saloon, determined to declare his independence of home and business. There he falls in with two men and a girl whose "profession" is betting on the horses. For Erwin it's just a hobby, and he becomes fabulously rich – on paper. He picks the right horses, but never once places a bet. He tells his new friends what horses to bet on, and to their astonishment, they win. Erwin will prove a gold mine if properly managed, and the three professionals decide to hold onto him for dear life. Though Erwin has misgivings, he is persuaded to remain with his new-found friends at a hotel and regularly dope out the races. But he becomes increasingly concerned about his job (which does really suit him) and his wife (who does really love him). Matters with Erwin and his companions come to a climax when one of them suspects him of double-crossing, and he insists on Erwin's betting on a horse to prove that he is straight. Erwin declares he will lose his power if he bets, and this is indeed what happens. Erwin's boss, wife and brother-in-law become worried, until they learn he is really interested in what he considers his life-work, the writing of verses. Erwin turns down an offer by an outside gambler who wants to buy a "slice" of him; he knows he will never again be able to pick winning horses; the poet in him predominates, and he is happy to return home to his loving wife.

Three Men on a Horse premiered in 1935 at The Playhouse Theatre on Broadway and ran for two years. After that, seven touring companies brought it to all reaches of the US. A durable classic of the American theatre, it has enjoyed four Broadway revivals, including one in 1993 that starred television's "odd couple," Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. It has long been a favorite from regional theaters to high school auditoriums.

Cast: 4 female, 11 male (fewer with doubling)

What people say:

"As long as people think that one horse can outrun another, and they are willing to wager cash on the notion, race tracks and scratch sheets will continue to fascinate anyone willing to take a chance on a bet. And believe it or not, that can be hilarious. Or so it is in [the] timeless comedy Three Men on a Horse." — Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale)

About the Playwright:

John Cecil Holm (1904-1981) was an American dramatist, theatre director, and actor. He is best known for his 1935 play Three Men on a Horse, co-written with George Abbott. He also wrote for the screen and several television series, including Playhouse 90.

George Francis Abbott (1887-1995) is a major name in modern American theatre. His career spanned more than 70 years. He was brought in by the producers of Three Men on a Horse to add rewrites and direct John Cecil Holm's script. He first began his career as an actor on Broadway before his career as a director, writer and producer in both theatre and film. He would work on more than 100 Broadway productions in his lifetime.