DAVENPORT, FAY AND DAVIES' COMBINATION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3898, 14 April 1877, Page 2

DAVENPORT, FAY AND DAVIES' COMBINATION.

This clover company made their first appearance last night at the Oddfellows' Hall, which was well filled. The first part of the programme commenced with the " cabinet trick" which the Davenports have made so famous, and which requires to be seen to be fully appreciated. The brothers were securely tied by His Worship the Mayor and Mr A. Kennedy, who. remained on. the stage during the whole of the first part of the entertainment. Immediately after being tied the doors of the cabinet were closed, and hands were then seen through an opening at the top of the cabinet, bells were heard to ring, and sounds of musical instruments also heard. The cabinet was tlieri opened, and disclosed the brothers tied in the same way .is before the doors wore closed, the gentlemen who had tied them stating that the knots they made were not unfastened. . The doors of the cabinet were again dosed and opened almost immediately, when the brothers were found to have unloosed themselves. Mr Gully sat between the brothers while they were tied, holding each of them, .and the musical sounds were heard as before. At the coitclusidn (if this part- of the programme the brothers were received with very hearty applause. The second part consisted of Mr E. D. Davies' wonderful ventriloquial entertainment, and was indeed a great treat to the audience. The dialogue kept up between Mr Davies .and the puppets Tom and Joe, and a number of dthci' voices from unseen individuals, kept the audience in roars of laughter, several songs and local hits being introduced with good effect. The " dark seance," by Professor Fay, concluded the entertainment, and it was certainly an astonishing performance. The lights were extinguished, and each member of tne troupe was held by one of Hie audience, a number of gentlemen. being on the stage. Mysterious sounds and ringing of bells were then heard, and musical instruments, which were previously illuminated, were seen floating in the air. During a portion of this performance Professor Fay and Mr Davenpoi't were securely tied, and the gentlemen dn tlie stage stated id tile audience that they had no assistance from any other persons. The .company appear again this evening.