The Heller Company.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7213, 18 May 1898, Page 1

The Heller Company.

Heller's Wliito Mahatma Company opened last night In tho Thoatro Royal to a vary fair house, which was enthusiastic in testifying to its appreciation of tho performance throughout. Tho programme offered was a commondably varied ono and calculated to appeal to all tastes. The musical items were good and comprised some excellent singing by Miss Johnston, seme irresistibly comio numbers from Mr Heller, for which ho was vociferously recalled, a ballad from Mr Abbott, and banjo and piano solos by tho same gentleman which were considerably above the average. This gentleman also shone In the capacity of a professional jokist. Mies Havlock's sun danco was a pretty and graceful performance, qualities which were intensified by tho colored limelights. Tho Biograph Lumiere, a now development of the cinematograph, was used for tho purposo of showing some admirable views. A sories of reminiscences of tho Jubilee celebration were first cast upon tho scroon, and those were followed by a number of miscellaneous pictures, calculated to Bhow to tho fullest extent tho capacity of tho instrument to roproduce roal lifo. Tho meohanism is ono of tho best seen horo, and the pictures wero warmly appreciated by the audience. Mr Heller himself was responsible for some " neoromantlo novelties," as they aro alliterativoly designated, which were certainly as mystifying as they wore clover and convincing. The performance was really a "SDort" from tho regulation conjuring. The Ingenious ingenuousness of tho performer, who distracted his audience's attention by a constant assurance thab his aim was noc so much to do tho tricks himself as to teach them how to do thom, wa9 I distinctly refreshing. Bub tho crux of tho wholo programme was the psychomantic exhibition of Madame Holler,; who gave ample evidence that she is In league with every spirit, good and bad, from the Mabatmasof Thibetand tho spirits of Maoriland to the materialised devil of the barren creeds of civilisation. Her performance is as clever a piece of trlokery as one could wish to see, and formed a capital ending to an enjoyable programme. The Company will appear at Kurow tomorrow night.