HUMPHREY BISHOP COMPANY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 23 February 1931, Page 6

HUMPHREY BISHOP COMPANY

BRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT IN SCHOOL OF MUSIC Bright singing, clever step dancing, quick humour, pretty ballet and colourful Locking combined in providing a rollicking entertainment in the School of .Music on Saturday night, when the Humphrey Bishop Musical Comedy Company opened its season of five nights in Nelson. There was not a dull moment in the whole performance, which contained a series of bright items following fast on each other. One of Uie gems of the entertainment was Walter Kingsley’s singing of “The Cobbler’s Song” and “Salaam” as an encore number. His rich, powerful baritone-bass voice greatly pleased the audience in the well-chosen songs.

Mr Humphrey Bishop himself appeared in a number in which lie gave a discourse on his travels. A snappy ragtime ensemble prepared the audience for a spell of hearty laughter when Maurice Barling, a finished comedian, and Sydney Montague discussed the merits of their respective parenthood. Till the end of the programme the mere appearance of Maurice Barling was sufficient to draw audible expressions of pleasurable anticipation from the audience. Fred Webber caused renewed hilarity by his entertainment at tlie piano. Arthur Helmsley, a distinctive type of comedian, blended pathos and comedy in a clever Cockney characterisation. With Elaine Mave in boy and girl parts, he created roars of laughter. In appropriate dress Walter Kingsley and Thelma Trott added a more serious touch by the singing of “The Keys of Heaven,” which was one of the most popular song items of the programme. In contrast with the fast action of the comedy items, Margaret Blackburn delighted her listeners by playing a Minuet on her violin. A fitting close to a wholesome programme was the singing of “The Love Parade” by the company. Thelma Trott took "the soprano solo part, which her voice suited admirably. Of course it was necessary for Maurice Barling to drill the parade before the final chorus. That Mr Bishop’s company have mastered the art of putting on their entertainment in the smaller type of hall was demonstrated by the effective arrangement of the scenery on the extended stage of the School of Music, and the well arranged lighting effects. The Locking, too, is excellent. The advent of the talkies has caused difficulty for companies such as Mr Bishop conducts in securing City theatres at reasonable rentals. However, what the larger towns have lost is the smaller towns’ gain in this case, as Mr Bishop has decided on a tour of the smaller towns.

It is a distinct change in these days of mostly mechanical music to be given a bright night’s entertainment by talented artists who are attempting to keep alive the legitimate stage. Saturday’s programme will be repeated to-night and to-morrow night, but a (complete change is announced for Wednesday.