LONG TACK SAM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22406, 30 April 1936, Page 14

LONG TACK SAM

A CLEVER COMPANY MAGIC AND ACRO3ATICS WHIRLWIND ENTERTAINMENT Amazement was the feeling of a large audience as it left His Majesty's Theatre last night after witnessing tho opening performance by Long Tack Sam and his remarkable company. Karely has such a whirlwind of astonishing acrobatic feats, clever dancing and unbelievable magic been presented on an Auckland stage. It was excellent enter tainment For two and a-half hours item followed item at terrific pace. The last bars of the overture by Doris Burt and her orchestra had scarcely died away when, amidst a riot of colour, Jaudy, a French musical clown, chattered his way on to the stage. He put the audience in good humour from tho start. Jandy played music on the most unusual instruments. He blew tho lingers of a pair of gloves, and music came; ho drank from bottles, and somehow emerged the strains of "The Last lioso of Summer." And to the accompaniment of diverting antics ho literally battled with a framework of bells, and produced a pleasant melodj'. Notable Skating Act Paul and Leon then tap-danced into view—on skates. For several minutes they went through a series of intricate steps that even a Fred Astaire, with no such difficult handicaps, would liiul difficult. Astor, billed to provide a surprise, followed, and undoubtedly filled the bill. But it would be divulging secrets to explain the surprise. Grace and beauty were the keynotes of tho dancing items contributed by Mascotte and Maurice, clever alike with ballroom and adagio movements. Humour was provided in full measure by Doris Lindsay, a little lady of undeniably Scottish extract, who hated gossips, but liked to know just what was going on. Her songs went with a merry swing. The first part of the programme concluded with an exhibition of amazingly clever skating by tho Four La Sailes. After thrilling their audience with several daring and dangerous feats they closed a remarkable act with the "Death Whirl," in which Fraulein La Salle looped the loop on skates in a large cylinder. An Amazing Offering Then came Long Tack Sam. He produced bowls of goldfish from nowhere, took parasols from where he had placed handkerchiefs, and tore newspapers into many pieces and then produced them intact again. And all the time ho entertained with an unending stream of amusing patter. His own particular tricks completed he then "staaemanaged" his troupe of Chinese artists through innumerable feats of strength and acrobatics. Several of the acts were little short of sensational. A small Chinese boy, high up on a pole balanced on another's shoulder, seemed to bu able to do everything possible except fall oil'. A clear-eyed tumbler leapt through a small frame of knives, and did it again to prove his skill. A bo.v balanced on his head, upside-down, on the crown of another, and then, with a "cigar" in his teeth, did the same feat, except that ho balanced by placing the cigar on tho end of another clenched in the teeth of his colleague. And so throughout the programme one amazing item followed closo upon another.

Occasionally there was relief from these engrossing acts. Then Long Tack Sam's daughter, Miss Nee Sa Long, would appear, and would provide lirstclass entertainment. She showed remarkable versatility. From dancing the South American "Carioca," she would slip into a graceful waltz movement, and then again into a swinging foxtrot. Often she sang, with a charming and melodious voice. But her best item was when she played a violin and bent slowly backwards, still playing, until her head touched the floor.

The performance will be repeated tonight.