unfortunately $ini() is one of those identifiers that accepts 'N/name', but /play -t only accepts a name :P i would suggest using /play directly and just trapping any errors, saves mIRC having to access the file multiple times in the successful case:

Code:
  play -t $+ %x # %f
  return

  :error

  if (? /play: unable to open * iswm $error) {
    reseterror
    ; file not found
  }

  elseif (? /play: topic ?& not found * iswm $error) {
    reseterror
    ; topic not found
  }

"The only excuse for making a useless script is that one admires it intensely" - Oscar Wilde