FIRST WOMAN MAGICIAN

Evening Star, Issue 19721, 23 November 1927, Page 2

FIRST WOMAN MAGICIAN

DAUGHTER OF MASKEhYHE

THICKS OP THE STAGE,

M iss Mary Maskelyne, grund-dangh* ter of the famous illusionist, is the first girl to graduate as a magician, says 11 London paper. She i.s the only woman descendant of Mr J. N. Maskelyne* founder of the mystery shows at St. George’s Hall, and last year, when .she decided to take up a career as a magician, her brothers arranged for tier to learn the technique of stagecraft by making her an illusionist’s assistant. She Las just completed an 19 months’ provincial tour, and i.s now starting to learn tho “magic” business in earnest at Langham Place. “I am hoping to make magic . a career,” Miss Maskelyne told an Interviewer lately. “Of course, I am not yet eligible for the Magicians’ Circle, but I know a tremendous lot of sccretsmhout the tricks of the stage. That is one thing a woman who wants to lie a magician must learn—how to keep a secret,

“ I have been assisting my brother Clive in his illusions, so far without mishap. We had a near squeak at Deyonpprt in a trick in which my brother had to have his hands tied behind his hack. The sailors who did tin* tying made such clever knots that they nearly prevented the trick being con eluded. “Although 1 am only a little ovi 20, I suppose I know more about hn" these magical things arc done than any other girl, and when I have finislie I appearing in the magical sketch, ‘The Khang Hsi Vase,’ with my _ brother Jasper, I shall learn to do tricks myself unaided, “My father, tips late Mr' Neville Maskelype, once found himself beaten He was placed under the spell of a fairy gueen. He wept down*to a provincial pantomime to work his magic there, grid met a lady who was taking th“ part of the Fairy Queen, She was very young and beautiful, and the ppor magician could not resist her potent charms. When dad told me that ,as a child I thought it was the most wonderful story in'all the magical world.”