SPLIT DECISIONS: The reviews are in for Theatre Three’s The Royal Family, a comedy from the 20s loosely based on the Barrymore family of actors. Reviewing for dallasnews.com, Manuel Mendoza says the show is “snappily” directed by Jac Alder and, “it’s enough to create a diverting evening at the expense of those who aren’t like you or me.” Elaine Liner isn’t as kind on theaterjones.com, saying, “too many performances fizzle instead of dazzle, and whose three acts slog by at a dozy, not dizzying, speed.” Both reviewers were grabbed by the performance of Theatre Three newcomer Jack Foltyn. Liner liked him (“Foltyn shakes some real excitement into The Royal Family“) while Mendoza’s not so sure (“Channeling Robin Williams, Peter O’Toole and Errol Flynn, Foltyn goes for broke, employing every joint in his body to convey Tony’s engorged self-involvement. It’s a defendable choice but also a distraction.”).

BUY INTO THE MUSIC BIZ: Got $10? Then you could be listed as an executive producer of the new PayRadioPlay album – the stage name of Aledo’s Dan Hunter. Fort Worth Weekly reports that the singer-songwriter is soliciting the funds partly as a measure of how much interest there will be in his upcoming album. You can find more information on his MySpage page.

MIMICKING THE MASTERS: North Texas has more than its share of cover bands – “tribute bands” if you’re in one. The members of Escape, a Journey tribute band, tell dfw.com that for them and the audience, kicking out the classic jams is a way to relive those glory days. The story got me thinking – what band would be the most difficult to cover? A couple came to mind. U2 – you’ve got to be a tech whiz to replicate the Edge’s guitar sound. (Bob Dylan once told the Edge, “Everyone loves your songs, but no one will be able to play ’em.”) Van Halen – you’ve got to have a guitar player who can play “Eruption” and a singer who can do the splits in the air. Discuss.