ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2522, 8 June 1909, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EGYPTIAN FAKIRS AND ELECTRIC PICTURES.

The first of what is intended to be a series of permanent entertainments will be given in His Majesty’s Theatre on Friday night next by the Egyptian Fakirs and Electric Picture Co. The following report of the first evening’s performance is taken from a Southern exchange, and shows how the entertainment was received: —The pictures were an interesting lot. “Scenes in Fiji” gave good illustrations of native life, including a fire-walking exhibition, while “The Oyster Industry” was depicted in all its details to the entertainment of the audience. “A Child’s Revenge” was a. good piece of cinematography, while equally interresting and realistic were “The Gamekeeper’s Son” and “The Detective.” The humorous films gave rise to considerable merriment, and included “A New Use for a Ladies’ Jacket,” “Saturday's Mages,” “Only a Limerick.” and ‘“How He Stopped the Motor.” The versatile qualities of Virgo, a conjurer and fire-eater, helped the performance along to a- good finish. This performer proved an adept in legerdemain and thoroughly mystified the audience with a few tricks of more than ordinary dexterity. His fire-eating was wonderful to behold. He set ablaze to a platter of methylated spirits and licked up the flames from a burning ladle with the relish of a fastidious epicure.' He illuminated the interior of his mouth with lighted matches and closed liis jaws over two burning wicks and brought them all . out ablaze. He ted ia : long streak of fire like a blazing bootlace and swallowed it like, a hoy on the end of a piece of chewing gum. After ho had consumed a sufficient amount of the combustible material lie lit. a match opposite liis mouth and blew out a streak of fire almost long enough for the people in the stalls to warm tlieir hands .at. It was a woncierfu l performance.