MASKELYNE AND DEVANT'S MYSTERIES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10042, 9 January 1909, Page 1

MASKELYNE AND DEVANT'S MYSTERIES.

Early in the year-Mr Henry Hayward, an entrepreneur who, during a most successful associate-macflgemeiit of West's Pictures, had- accurately gauged the capabilities of. .Australia as a field for really first-classr dramatic enterprises, determined to bring the most representative ■entertainment London boasted to these '•stores. He accordingly entered into negotiation -with Mr Maskelyne, of Masfcelyne and Oook, who for 40 years have" held the Egyptian and St. George's Balls, Piccadilly, and have there established a performance of mystery, music, and magic which has resulted in a record run of 40,000 performances, and a record patron need to describe the various marvels* which the firm have invented; and still vary 2—■ ghost appearances, the cleverest tricks of. the age, and) illusions which at various times have been the means of swaying popular opinion when sham spiritualists were gainiirig dangerous power. Maskelyne and; Cbok's names have lbng been world-known, ever indeed, the famous contests and lawsuits which arose from the determined effort John Nevill Maskelyne made to expose false"mediums" by imitating the results obtained at "seainces," and openly declaring that his means were mere trickery. One reason, perhaps, which will account fot the lasting popularity of the Egyptian Hall, is that all the "allusions are constantly being reinforced!- by fresh mysteries and extraordinary inventions, and! that the programme is varied by the appearance of artists, each of whom 'is the finest available in his particular specialty. It will be easily imagined that the importation of the ■ large company necessary to the working of the mystery plays and of the great amount of -valuable and secret inventions which form part of the great trick, "Will; the Witch and . the Watchman," is a venture of the highest importance. The tour arranged . embraces only the large towns of the Commonwealth and New Zeafaid, of which already Sydney, where a, brilliant two months' opening was made,- "Brisbane, Newcastle, and Melbourne hive been visited. The absolttte novelty of .the: entertainment, combined with . the fact that the firm, which since Mr Cook's death has been, 'known-- as Maskelyne and Devant is known in all corners of the British Empire, have contributed to an ■ "encouragingly successful reception! of ;the English combination:. The great illusions alternate with_ appearances "of Mr Barclay Gammon, one" of the chief musical mono'loguisiß "/of_ the. dtay, Gintaro, who was well termedfa "Japanese Cinquevalli," and Mr Owen darky a, brilliaiiit yonng London conjuror. . . '-. ";...:, ■■■.■.,■'■■;-- ; -..- '•"..." '■"'" :