THEATRE ROYAL

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 237, 15 October 1901, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL

ADA DKLItOY COML’ANY

It is now some four years or more since the Ada Delroy Company last visited Gisborne, and the previous reputation of tho Company was quite sufficient to attract a

large audience to the Theatre lioval last evening. From the opening bars of music at H to the last extraordinary revelation of the White Mahatma at about a quarter

to 11, there was not a single dull moment, while for the greater part of the time old and young were kept most highly amused. The special note of

the entertainment is " brightness." with a necessary dash of fun, as innocent as it is irrosliblc. The lirst item put the audience in tho happiest humor, being a •• Musical Medley Melange ” by Miss

Delroy and Mr James Hell, affording ample opportunity for the display of the special gifts of both artistes. Miss Delroy has a delightful voice, and her by-plav is most captivating, while Mr Hell seems to have been sent into the world with a mission to make mankind laugh. Mr Ford, who followed, is a gentleman whoso

face responds to every demand made upon it, and no description could possibly do justice to his extraordinary genius. Mr Hell’s inimitable “ Senegambian Oddities,” in which the jokes are actually new and amusing, was followed by a iarcical sketch, in which the same gentleman, as a nigger servant, in conjunction with .Miss Lite, as a match-making mamma, kept the house in roars of laughter. Miss Lita during the evening also sang a ballad, which was rendered in excellent style. Every item, it is needless to add, was encored. The second pare opened with the Hioseope, showing views of the war, moving scenes in China, and some comic pictures. It will perhaps he suflicient to say of these that they are the best yet shown in Gisborne. The Chinese women smoking her after-dinner cigarette was quite admirable. To this succeeded what many will hold to be the principal feature n the performance, namely Miss Delroy’s oeautiful skirt dances, in the course of which, with the judicious aid of lime-light some delightful effects were produced. The perfection of grace displayed by the fair danseuse is too rarely seen, and the audience testified its thorough appreciation by vociferous applause and recalls. The 'we dance She is almost beyond one’s imagination, the weirdness and fascination of the dance being most impressive. A brilliant solo on the xylophone by .Miss Lizzie Leslie led up to the marvellous • visions of the lady who is known throughout tiie civilised world as ” The White Mahatma.” While the director, Mr Hell, expressly disclaims any supernatural power, professing to be ignorant of the true explanation, the performance is weirdly suggestive of occult powers. Questions written down by members of the audience were read by the Mauatma

and answered in most cases with a surprising knowledge of the surrounding facts. The performance is quite removed from the ordinary class of clairvoyant shams, and is ready unique in its interest. The company makes its final appearance at the Theatre lioval this evening, when there will be an entire change of programme.