ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 264, 5 October 1933, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

MODERN MAGIC. DANTE’S CI,EVER ILLUSIONS. There is something 5 about’ the mysterious which has appealed to the human race throughout the ages and, true to his world-wide reputation, Dante, the Danish exponent of modern stage magic, charmed and mystified a large audience at the Opera House last night on his first appearance in Palmerston North after an absence of some 21 years. Danto is a rapid worker, polished in manner, graceful in action, performing an amazing variety of tricks to a flow of amusing patter, llis is a large company, a magnificent wardrobe, and the mystic in his stock-in-trade may well puzzle oven the most' convinced “that there is nothing in magic.” Some of his tricks are not new, but he does them so neatly and smoothly that they are still delightful in their freshness, while others of his,, illusions are as original as they are startling and picturesque. Nothing more alluring has been seen than “Fountania-,” a Chinese water spectacle, when, in an Eastern setting and garbed as a mandarin, Dante waves a magic wand. Each touch from the wand, be it on hand, head or foot, produces a beautiful stream until, finally, well nigh everything and everyone on the stage is transformed into a meet energetic tountain which must require some hundreds of gallons of water. With the changing lights giving to the whole scene a kaleidoscopic ehect, it is truly a spectacle which delights the onlooker. Of the. many mysteries that intrigued the onlooker,* the illusion of sawing a woman in half was probably the most ! thrilling. The young woman was placed |in two boxes, her head protruding from the one and her feet from the other. Then j a huge two-handed saw was requisitioned and, vigorously applied, cut through the frail partition between the two boxes — but still the head and - feet protruded. In another instance a girl was immured in a cask, which was placed alongside another empty cask whoso end was protected by a grating of stool bars; yet, at the magic words “Sim Sala Bim,” the girl was transferred, from one to the other. Equally puzzling was the illusion “Broadcasting a j Woman.” In this trick a girl, marked for identification, was placed inside .one of two empty cabinets, with gauze front. When the electric current was switched on the image of the girl' gradually faded from view to appear in the other cabinet. When this illusion had been repeated two or three times the real girl stepped down, not from the cabinet sho had entered, but from its companion. Still another iiitovesting performance was the act in which ail apparently unsupported body was raised front the ground to float airily in space. Finally, at a gesture, it became a mere bundle of rags. In another instance a young woman was securely locked in a box on the Stage and suspended there. At the crack of a p.istoi another box was lowered by the assistants and, despite the • fact that it had hung undisturbed up in the dome of the theatre within the view of all throughout the full course of the evening, there was the girl enclosed therein. These are but a few of the many illusions of Dante, the magician, whose artistry in palming and dexterity with billiard balls was of an equally high ordef. . The “Cabaret do la Mort” is an amusing scene in a barber’s shop, in which Dante changes his identity very mysteriously. Throughout laughter mingled with mysticism in a manner which loft the patron well contented at conclusion. In every respect it was a programme which appealed to all classes and ages and in which the central figure was a veritable master. The patrons were not loth at conclusion to express their appreciation of an unusual and somewhat bewildering performance which should again attract hundreds to the Opera House to-night. PICTURE THEATRES. George Arliss -gives an outstanding performance in “The King’s Vacation,” coming to the Regent Theatre to-morrow evening. . His sympathetic and delightfully, humorous rendering of the part of a king who, while desiring to be treated as an ordinary human being, is forever treated as a king, is consummate, and Arliss at hits best. “The King’s Vacation” is a very human and exceptionally entertaining story of the private affairs of a throneless monarch. Mr Arliss ’is his usual charming, natural and polished self, his manner and perfect speaking voice proclaiming him a most distinguished actor. Supporting. Mr Arliss is his wife, Florence Arliss, Marjorie Gateson, Dick Powell, Patricia Ellis, Dudley Diggcs and O. P. Hoggie. “The Love Contract” at the Palace Theatre; “Smoko Lightning” at the Kosy Theatre. .