ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14586, 24 January 1911, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE.

The popularity of vaudeville, or the particular brand of it offered to the public by Messrs. John Fuller and Sons, was exemplified by the very large audience which gathered in the Opera House last evening to greet several new artists. Every seat in the building was occupied, and apparently the fare was to the palate of the listeners, for every artist had to respond to vigorous encores. The star turn of the evening was that provided by Hassan, a gentleman with a smile and a dusky skill, who is evidently of Hindu extraction, and who certainly has learned somewhat of the mystery of the East and is now retailing it to the public. Hassan is very clever at legerdemain and tricks of all kinds, and all his work is clean and certain. Necessarily some of his turns resemble those that have already been seen liore, but all have distinctive features, and some are refreshingly original. Hassan is clever enough to make the inanimate out of nothing and the animate out of the inanimate, to do mystifying card tricks, to restore a turban which has been cut in pieces and partially destroyed by lire, to vomit smoke and fire for no apparent reason, to pull yards of tape out of his mouth, to make tightly-knotted handkerchiefs unravel themselves, to produce flowers and fowls from nothing, and to lose coins and recover them in the most improbable places. His last feat is the most startling, lie attaches a. block of stone weighing 621b to his eyelids by cords and raises it with his hands behind 'his back. While this was being done a committee of gentlemen were on the stage and satisfied themselves that the weight was really upon the eyelids. In lighter vein appeared Mr. Nat Clifford, who appears to be increasingly popular. Ho is without doubt a comedian of more than average ability. His rnakesup are very funny, and his style is distinctive. He gave first a song with some amusing patter entitled "The Toreador," in which he described what might have taken place during a bullfight in Spain. He followed this with a woful Wail in the character of a widow who had lent all her valuables to an adventurer. One of the most amusing turns of the evening was provided by Harry Sadler, who produced roars of laughter by bringing on the stage a little man made up to resemble very faithfully a well-known figure on the Auckland streets. The Gibson Girls made their first appearance and established themselves warm favourites, singing and dancing with spirit and in excellent time. They also did nimble work with skipping ropes. Other members of a good all-round company were Les Scott, E. R. Martin, Bob Harper, Horace Dent-rice, Misses • Nellie Searle, Nellie Leslie, Beattie McDonald, Beryl Oilman. The company will appear again this evening.