THE Q.P. ENTERTAINERS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 150, 22 December 1921, Page 10

THE Q.P. ENTERTAINERS

BRIGHT AND HAPPY SHOW.

Even the man who may go to the show presented by the Q.P. ' Musical Company against his will—a thing that sometimes happens even in very well regulated families—will enjoy the even- | ing in spite of his determination to go home as he left home, in rather a bad humour. The entertainment given last evening, when the company opened a four weeks' season in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, was bright and snappy —a first-rate show /or holiday time, and if an item here and there had seen service before, its dressing and settings were new. The company uses just enough novel stage setting to back up its most varied programme; the dressing is bright and attractive, the singing good, and the orchestral work particularly good—the show as a whole is good. Twenty-one items are set out on the current programme—too long a list to detail, but certain of the numbers deserve individual mention. Following the overture, introducing numbers to be fea,tui*d later in the evening, is the Q.P. Chorus, " Laughing Vamp and Happy," four or five minutes of gay dresses and and good ensemble work. The welltried out ,duet, tenor and soprano, from " H Trovatbre," is the third item, the singers being Mr. A. J. Morris and Miss Hazel Fuller, a Wellington girl who has been far afield, and has come back a clever artist. Comedy numbers, including songa and recitations by Leonard Nelson, and a sextette lead on to very pleasing contralto solos by Miss Hose Fitzgerald, "My Dear Soul" and " Down Here," with violin obbligatoes by Mr. P. Azioli. A sketch, founded on 0. Henry's " Gifts of the Magi," more nonsense, violin solos by Mr. Azioli, a Hawaiian scene, and a jazzy band specialty fill the remainder of the first half of the programme. The jazz bandsmen show just what may be done with music with sufficient determination and considerable ingenuity. The entr'acte and piccolo solo, "Silver Birds," played by Mr. William Keys, was certainly one of the best of the items last night, for it was brilliantly given. A grand opera scena, in which Messrs. Grafton Williams and Morris and Misses Fuller anc' Fitzgerald and company introduced the students' chorus, the drinking soht and the Barcarolle from "Tales of Hoffmann,»' was also a great success with the audience. There were more songs, more instrumental music, a good deal more laughable nonsense, and the company then appeared in a grand finale, wherein operatic airs are lightly treated. Q.P. stands for "quality performers," and the initials are quite well justified, for tho show is quite worth -while.,