because it changes from one number to the next and, occasionally, even in the middle.

A mildly satirical and decidedly English wit enhances their music which at times is reminiscent of Noel Coward, the King's Singers (for whom they write songs), Flanders & Swann and even a touch of Joyce Grenfell. Having said that, their material is original and delivered in an understated, chatty sort of way which places them apart from the usual run of musical/comedy groups. While the name of Instant Sunshine was almost certainly chosen, way back in 1968, with tongue in cheek, it has turned out to be just that: a couple of hours in their company is guaranteed to bring a positive beam, to any face.

One thing which remains constant is their talent. In fact, the group who have described themselves as "the only string quartet which plays standing up'' are fine musicians, who sing, play a variety of instruments, write their own, extremely witty material, and perform it with obvious enjoyment.

The quartet originally comprised three, very successful, doctors who burst, big-time, on Britain's entertainment scene when they were voted the `Hit of the Fringe' at the Edinburgh Festival. Since then, they have become household names on radio and television.

This was their second appearance at the Bermuda Festival, a fact immediately alluded to in the introductions when they introduced themselves as Peter Christie as the tenor, Tom Barlow on bass, David Barlow on guitar and Alan Maryon-Davis "on the dark 'n stormy''.

Some jibes about the British government in which they managed to touch on the problems of world hunger led, seamlessly enough, off into the first of many an eccentric song in which we were exhorted to Come to Terms with Worms ("with spaghetti they're great fun''), and followed by such favourites as that marvellous parody of the horsey crowd, Has Anyone Seen My Horse, Who Mowed the Lawns of Eden, I'm Being Eaten By a Boa Constrictor and a delicious spoof on opera in Mini Mozart.

The first half ended with a noisy finale with Alan Maryon-Davis in his herculean and hilarious efforts as `exotic percussionist' as he crashed drum and cymbal in The Demon in the Drink, giving meaning to that phrase about audiences,`rolling in the aisles'.

He is probably the best known of the four, as presenter of the successful BBC TV series, Body Matters.

After tumultuous applause at the end, they returned on stage for one more song: "This is a bit tricky, we did the encore three numbers ago.'' They finished, however, in a swirl of Scottish humour, evoking the spirit of Harry Lauder in a stoical rendition of Keep Right On to the End of the Road.

This delightful mix of songs and gentle satire is one of the big hits of the Festival so far. Let's hope, with Instant Sunshine's special brand of cheer being constantly in demand at theatre and Festivals all over Britain, that they have already been booked for a return visit.

PATRICIA CALNAN INSTANT SUNSHINE -- warmed the City Hall audience on Saturday night when the English musical comedy team made a return visit to the Bermuda Festival.

Picutured, from left, are Alan Maryon-Davis, Peter Christie, David Barlow, and Tom Barlow.