MASKELYNE AND DEVANT'S MYSTERIES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXiX, Issue 7727, 22 February 1909, Page 2

MASKELYNE AND DEVANT'S MYSTERIES.

The 1 orifilial Maskelyne and Cook company, of London, now touring Australasia', will open a brief season at the Oddfellows' Hall, Ashburton, on Wednesday evening. The entertainment IS familiar by repute wherever the English language is spoken, and forms one of the recollections of London brought from the Homeland by many colonists. The company presents two absolutely distinct attractions —stage illusion, and individual ads by three special performers in juggling, conjuring, and musical monologue. The illusions are the form of small plays, of which three arc charmingly presented each evening. In some the story is weirdly romantic; for instance, that of an artist who, whilst painting his dead wife's portrait, beholds her materialise from the canvas; in others, comedy is the keynote. Whether, however, ghosts, spirit appearances, or baffling mazes of trickery are the motif, the sketches have this in common, that at tlio climax an amazing surprise is sprung upon the audience, and the phrase: "How is it done?" —the truest applause of conjurors—invariably runs round stalls, circle, and gallery. A staff of twenty actors and actresses manage the illusions. Gintaro's juggling, Mr Owen Clark's clever conjuring, and a London society entertainer (Mr Barclay Gammon, in musical monologue,) contribute to the overflowing programme. The orchestra is directed by Mr Ernest Arnold. The box nlan is at H. ?J. Jones's.