MASKELYNE AND DEVANT'S MYSTERIES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXiX, Issue 7730, 25 February 1909, Page 2

MASKELYNE AND DEVANT'S MYSTERIES.

The fame of-Mask-dyne and Dovant's company had preceded their visit io Ashburton and with a full ai&iijn.vce +hat the entertainraent was .o )•<•' ci m extraordinary charatcer cue of :},e Invest crowds that the 1.-uikl:n<£ las ■"vt.- accommodated found it/-. w..y to die Oddfellows' Hall last ei&iiiij^. "The company is all that it purports' to be. and the onlookers were baffled and astounded at the mysterious disappearance of what was undeniably flesh and blood, without any possible' moans of evit. Everything that could be thought of was done to prove the absence of trickery, and yet before the eyes of the audience living men came out of nothingness and disappeared m the same inexplicable manner. The onlook- \ ers would be sure that they had seen an illusion and ,yet equally sure that it was something very tangible and were so mystified, that they could only look t and wonder and were too much impressed at times to give the applause which was so well deserved. The majority sat m mute admiration, but a more appreciative audience has seldom been entertained here. Mr Owen Clark's work was quite distinct m quality from that of most conjurers, and there was an absence of any circumstance which would account to reason for what was dene. His movements were leisurely and apparently easily followed, yet he baffled the audience again and again by causing things *to be what everybody felt sure they were not, or revealing them m places, when all were convinced that they were somewhere else, as when he produced a flower from a dove and ejected eggs from his mouth m quick succession. His manner on the stage was pleasant, and he not only entertained with his cleverness butkept all amused with his good humour, his witticisms causing the audience -to bubble over with frequent laughter.. In an enactment by three characters, m which Miss Florence took a conspicious part, the climax was reached when out of two old newspapers a lady appeared. How she came tlu ire was only one of the many questions for whichthe spectators had no answer. Mr Barclay Gammon, with a piano, caused a very pleasing diversion, and both sexes rocked m their seats with enjoyment as he represented different kinds of people. He was most- successful as a German professor, and the uncontrolled , laughter showed ho^keenly the impersonation was enjoyed. In an illusionary play m the second part of the programme, m which, an empty cabinet and empty box were prominent, the company was put to a very severe test. Two men were called up from the audience and were permitted, after closely examining the box and cabinet to remain unon the stage. In one case a man clothed m a skin so as to resemble an ape was placed m the box which was afterwards secured roped and placed m the cabinet. Upon withdrawing the box from I the cabinet it was found to be still securely locked and roped, but empty. No one was m the cabinet when it rejeeived the box, so that the occupant :had no outGide assistance. The illusion 1 was complete and this is only one of the many instances that might- ke given. M. Gintaro, the. Japanese juggler, contributes a fair share' to the high reputation of the company. His performance was unique and the dexteriious way m which he used his hands was little short of marvellous. During the evening one of the members of the company played a couple :of cornet solos, which were much en- : joyed-.