ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXII, 16 May 1912, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE NORWOODS.

Tlie Opera House was comfortably filled in all parts on Wednesday evening, when Professor Norwood gave a series of interesting hypnotic performances, lhe Professor, who has a very pleasing style, easily wins the approval of his audience, and at the same time commands the confidence of his subjects. These, with one exception, were all young men from the audience, and they appeared to enter into the spirit of the proceedings with zest. There were one or two of his subiects who were some time before they fell under the hypnotic spell, 1 and one was returned to the audience as being not a fit subject, bat the Professor, in the end, had them under his will. It was ridiculously amusing to see some nine or ten young men endeavoring to brush imaginary treacle off their clothes, gather up sand at the sea-shore, playing in an orchestra with brooms, etc., for instruments, and the comical antics oi" these people kept the audience in a continual state of merriment. But the most interesting part of the proceedings was when the subjects were awakened. AVhen they saw the absurd positions they had been in their surprise, and sometimes con-, sternation, was wonderful to see. The audience again went into loud laughter, and repeatedly after each performance a good five minutes would pass before the Professor was able to proceed with his next turn, so much amused were the public at the humorous situations before them. Putting aside the lighter vein of the entertainment for awhile, the Professor turned to the serious side. He demonstrated with the help of his assistant what marvellous strength a hypnotised person has. Having hypnotised his assistant, he placed him between two chairs,.his head on one and his heels on the other. The Professor then got four of his volunteer subjects to stand on the rigid form of the assistant. The man did not move, and the audience expressed their appreciation by warm applause. The assistant seemed none the worse for the ordeal, which to the onlookers appeared to be a trying one. One of the best-liked performances of the evening was the exhibition of mental _ telepathy by Professor and Miss Norwood. The " lady was placed in a trance, and then, blindfolded, moved about the audience at the Professor's pleasure, doi;ng a number of things in carrying out the wishes of individuals, who desired an article transferred from one person to another. It was a clever turn, and one that met with a cordial reception. The evening concluded with a ludicrous scene in which the hypnotised subjects were supposed to be" taking part in a "tally-ho," reminiscent of the old coaching days. Each subject had a young lady, while all the party were given costumes to wear. To " watch them dressing in their hypnotised condition, to see them in the coach, driving to "Lover's Lane," and to behold their subsequent astonishment when they were awakened, was indescribable; the sketch was astonishingly funny. The subjects lost no time in leaving the stage. The Professor is to continue his season to-night, when patrons may look forward to a couple of hours' laughter. The Professor announced that to-day he would place his pianiste under a trance, and in this condition she would play in Mr Grace's shop-window till seven o'clock in the evening, when she would be removed to the Opera House, where she wo*-** continue playing until the commencement of the performance. The Lyric Orchestra supplied appropriate music. A large, number of people gathered at the Post Office at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon to see Professor Norwood give his advertised blindfolded drive. A committee drove over a circuitous Nroute from the Post Office, via Prhfces, Collins, Caledonia, and Erin streets, along the South road, and thenco to the starting-point, and hid a pocket-knife on the top of a door at the back of Mr Jones' shop in Princes street. The Professor, having been blindfolded, took the reins and commenced to drive over the same route. He only made two mistakes— over-driving a couple of crossings. AVith this exception, he lvent over the exactroute previously set by the committee. Arrivine- at the Post Office, he soon found the hidden article, and was applauded.