“CARTER THE GREAT"

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 March 1934, Page 5

“CARTER THE GREAT"

I EVENING OF MYSTIFICATION The eyes did not have it, at the , Greymouth Town Hall, last evening, bei cause they “saw” things performed - by Carter the Great, that could not i possibly have happened, and yet s appeared actual enough. There was • a large attendance, and a satisfied one, judging from the applause and ■ laughter, but Carter the Great would be well advised to take a hint from the “pictures,” which are invariably punctual at starting and do not have unreasonably long intervals. That is by the way. Conjuring tricks have an attraction that age cannot wither, and elderly and juvenile had their interest maintained last evening, by the apparently simple manner in which Carter the Great “did his stuff.” He opened with an apparently simple trick, that of transferring a handkerchief from one bottle to another, but his movements were so clean-cut —a feature of all his work— it completely mystified the audience. He changed a bottle of confetti into milk and bran into coffee and followed this with a clever rings transfer-trick with a revolver. An excursion into the occult then enabled an astral hand, claimed to be a replica of one taken from the tomb of Tutankhamen, to answer, by a particular number of taps, questions asked by various persons in the audience. Another popular trick was in the form of the torn card, and a really outstanding trick was one by which Mr. Carter < appeared to shoot a bullet through a ‘ woman and strike the bull’s-eye of a < target behind her. A “magic bottle” * supplied drinks at request. A “turn” eagerly awaited was that of sawing > "a woman in halves, her feet and hands ’ being held, a lady from the audience J gallantly supervising to prove there was “no deception.” This is one of the magician’s most mystifying tricks, and •! the audience were not slow to express their appreciation of his skill. An- *< other mysterious turn was presented when a woman was placed, apparently immovable in a large case, while strong spikes and steel bars were thrust through her body. She emerged 2

from the case none the worse for her 4 experience. It would take too long to | detail all the instances whereby the ♦$ quickness of the hand deceived the * eye, but each had its special interest. »* 4 Mr Carter’s humorous comments added to the entertainment.

Another part of the programme was devoted to the delving into the future and other manifestations of clairvoyance of Miss Evelyn Maxwell, who answered questions put to her from the body of the theatre by Mr. Carter, with seeming accuracy, and certain amusement to her hearers. Doubtless, she will be much discussed in many a. district home, especially if her “predictions” prove true. Most of these were of a happy and lucky character. Miss Lillian Quinn was the pianist, and was kept busy, “Carter the Great” will give another performance in the Town Hall this evening, when a large attendance is expected.