HUMPHREY BISHOP MUSICAL COMEDY CO.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 21 March 1927, Page 6

HUMPHREY BISHOP MUSICAL COMEDY CO.

Apropos of George Ross, "Scratcher," the weJl-known London comedian, of the Humphrey Bishop Company, wlio commence a two nights' season at the Opera House on Thursday, 24tli March next, the London "Stage" says: "It is interesting to note that Mr Ross assumed the eharacter make up as a joke originally, and hired himself out as | a stage hancl to a well-known London manager. During the action of a certain Revue there oecurred a painful stage .wait, with the manager fraptical'ly rushing about behind the scenes for someone to fill the hiatus. Mr Ross saw his opportunity and volunteered to amuse the audience. In sheer desperation th'e manI agter pushed him before the footlights and from that moment the stage eharacter of 'Seratcher,' the stage hand, was born, and as nothing more humorous or novel was to be found in the revue, 'Sicratcher' was promoted from scene shifter to star. A fortunate joke both for Mr Ross and the'public." His interpretation of what the cowboys did to his concert party in the wild and wooly west of North America, has made the name of "Seratcher,"- a household word wherever he has apeared. He is one of the three comedians in the Humphrey Bishop Company. Plans. are now open at the Bristol where the sloga,n "Book before you sleep" may well be applied. There will he an entire change on the second night.