STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 74, 18 June 1927, Page 15

STRAND

HUMPHREY BISHOP CO. A packed house greeted the first evening appearance of the Humphrey Bishop Musical Comedy Company on its return and farewell season at the Strand Theatre. Judging by the rounds of applause which followed most items, the company has made itself immensely popular among Auckland theatregoers. Among the hour and a-quarter of varied turns, which included song and dance numbers, breezy comedy, sketches and Instrumental novelties, those which markedly caught the fancy of the audience were “Watchman,” a fine duet by Walter Kingsley and John Montfort, and “South of Shanghai,” sung by Mr. Kingsley, who is the possessor of a fine baritone voice. “Scratcher” Ross is immensely amusing in his “Trial Turns,” and his saxophone novelty item brought the house down with its musical absurdity. One of the prettiest dace items is the triple walz by Alan Kitson, Marie LYandon, and Elaine Maye. This is one of the daintiest and most graceful exhibitions seen at the theatre for many a day. A screamingly funny sketch entitled “A Day at the Pictures,” featuring Arthur Hemsley and Elaine Maye, won well-merited appreciation, while Hemsley’s “Ai Choom,” a Lacashire oddity, which concludes with a intricate step dance, found the highest favour with a delighted audience. A bright show ends with a breezy selection by the ragtime quintette, whose numbers include, “Oh, You California,” and “Oh, Miss Hanna.” A fitting finale. “Hey Diddle Diddle,” is a delightful medley of harmony, comedy and music and forms a great climax to a good show. A second attraction for theatregoers is the picture side of the entertainment. “There You Are” is Conrad Nagel’s first effort in the field of comedy, and if the acclamations at the Strand last evening are any indication he has made a triumphal entry. The secret of the Indisputable success of Conrad as a comedian is his ridiculous drollery. The plot is not the strong point of the tale, nor It is intended to be, yet Conrad carries the story along w T ith a merry swing, ably assisted by such well-known artists as George Fawcett. Edith Roberts (as the sweet little girl of the story). Eddie Gribbon and Phillips Smalley. Adapted from F. Hugh Herbert’s novel the picture tells of the troubles of a young couple, who find themselves wanted by the police for kidnapping a baby and pursued by an irate father and a furious “grandfather.” It is essentially a whimsical comedy, yet there are thrills in plenty, as, for instance, when a carelessly thrown lighted match explodes a petrol waggon, setting fire to a big hotel. Conrad Nagel, as Frank Fenwick, rescues the girl of his heart from a top storey of the burning building, and the young people are happily united after the usual lovers’ estrangements. “There You Are” is a delightfully wholesome picture version of a light and enjoyable book, and film fans cannot go amiss if they attend this week’s show at the Strand.