ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2474, 13 April 1909, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

■ IlijJ ■ % MASKELYXE AND DEV ANT’S ** MYSTERIES. The second programme of magic and illusion submitted by Messrs Maskelyne and Devant to a good audience at Tis Majesty’s ‘Blieatre last evening dealt with many of the old-time wonders shown by the stage magicians. Mr. Owen Clark appeared in entirely new sleight-of-hand tricks, and apparently sot the law of gravitation at defiance by causing a heavy brass ball to roll up or cfown an inclined plane at the word of command. Doves, bowls of flowers, cannon Kails, lighted candles, and other objects were caused to disappear into space before the eyes and to re-appear in the most unexpected places. Tne illusion of the decapitated living, body was shown in the form of a little comedy, entitled “The Elixir of Life. 5 * It is an old-time trick, but as presented last evening caused great wonderment and amusement. Farmer Scrivens visits a quack doctor, who attempts to perform an operation on his neck, the lancet slips, and the farmer’s head is taken off. The farmer, however, is. not dismayed, but picks ud lus head quite unconsciously and walks off the stage. Mr. Maskelvne has always been famous for his exposures of the doings cf spiritualistic mediums, and in “Mrs. Daffodil Downey’s Seance” shown last evening the common happenings at seances were reproduced. Tapping was heard beneath an ordinary small table, and when the magician's hands were placed upon the table it rose and floated in mid-air about the room. A lady was materialised out of an apparently empty cabinet, and in sepulchral voice gives a n\essage from Spiritism!. The seance was most- amusing and not a little instructive. Mr. Gintaro. the clever Japanese, juggler, also gave a change of programme, and showed some dexterous top-spinning. A large Japanese top was made to spin on the thin paper edge of a fan, and to travel up and • down a pathway of thin string stretch- * ed in mid-air. His other feats comprised some clever balancing, and Mr. Gintaro was loudly applauded for his work. Mr. Barclay Gammon again gave his monologue .entertaiumogt, and introduced a number of new musical items. The company will appear for the last time this-evening, when the same programme will he submitted. It is announced that the charge for admission, to the pit will be one shilling.