MYSTIC REVUE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 15

MYSTIC REVUE

Entertainment By Chang And Company

How would you like to be able to fry two eggs into a living duck, or turn a rabbit wrapped in a newspaper into edible candy? These are but two of the many accomplishments of Chang, the magician, who is at the Opera House, Wellington. Chang can do anything from making rabbits vanish into thin air to producing all kinds of drinks from a jug of clear water. There is none of the tiresome monotony usual with magicians’ shows about Chang’s company. His illusions are skilfully worked into an Oriental mystic revue which never allows the audience’s interest to flag. One of the highlights of this revue is ■the act provided by the Bridges’ trio in the Cuban marimba orchestra. There are also two acrobatic dancers and balancing artists, Walton and Murray, who give a most entertaining display. In addition to an excellent ballet, the company has Joanna and Beth Claire, who provide some very clever eccentric dancing. Most impressive of the ballet numbers is the African jungle dance, which is grotesque and weird.

interest is naturally centred on Chang himself, and his repertoire is admirably suited to convey to an audience some idea of a trip to Hades —the title of the production being “A Trip to Hades.” Where else would it be possible for one man to take seven people from an audience and make the table on which they lay their hands, move at his command? Who but a resident of the underworld could substitute himself for a girl who had 'been placed in a locked and roped trunk? The climax to the show comes with the story of San Li Tay, Chang translates the story by action, taking the princess from her .place in mid-air where she is awaiting sacrifice, and placing her inside a locked and chained box which is itself inside a trunk, and which is hung high over the stage. The vivid costuming is one of the features of a “Trip to Hades.” Chang wears a succession of beautiful Chinese robes throughout the show. With every act, he divests himself of a gown to reveal another of delicate design and beautiful colouring. Another of the more attractive costumes is that worn by the ballet as dancing girls in a rajah’s palace. They wear gold and green costumes with high jewelled headdresses. A pleasing contrast with the brightness of the stage is afforded by the dance “Garden, of Magic Flowers,” in which “flowers" climb from their “stalks” on a darkened stagd'and dance, only the faces, leafy arms and legs, being visible.