AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13543, 16 March 1906, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

PRINCESS THEATRE. CfoKSI. Last evening nt ths Princess Theatre there was introduced to a lnree Dtmediii audience, under the auspices of Mr William Anderson, a somewhat remarkable entertainer in Czerny, who is billed in the attractive title of a modern magician, and even has the formidable epithet, of pre.stidigitr.teur applied to him. Certainly Mr- Czerny is fortunate in being modern, for ho would never hive dared to be antique. The wizard was not too popular n few hundred years ago. Czerny is, in his line, which has e large fascination for all classes of the public, a brilliantly-accom-plished artist, who does nothing that he cannot do superlatively well, and who possesses a personality that mikes' light work of the most onerous task of almost single-handed entertaining and ho'.djns; the attention ol an audience for close upon three hours. His style on the stage is telling without being too obtrusive, and his clear, well-voiced explanations and running commentary are calculated to produce s maximum of understanding and effect with a minimum of apparent effort. He possesses, moreover, a subtle sense of humour, and on more than one occasion last evening deftly took a rise out of his audience by way, as he expressed it, of intensifying the perceptive powers of those present. In ihs enterljiument juven very due attention has been bestowed on detail that shall give the impress of weird environment—in the background, the sphinx gazes slarily st the audience from the calvas, and the stage furnishings are brilliantly lavish towards the achievement of a sotting calculated to please the eye and give the elfectivo and bizarre setting that may be imagined eminently suitable for a wizard to carry on his demonstrations in. Czerny noes so many feats that to give an adequate idea of all would be tedious. The methods by which he arrives at bis results may also bo left to the audience, and c]o not exactly involve ? case of "he that runs may read." 'With the assistance of some of the firearms, indispensable apparently to the magician's accoutrement, some astonishing effects were achieved, whether with handkerchiefs, cards, rings borrowed from obliging; ladies, or what not. Dexterity and finish are markedly characteristic of everything Czerny docs. Ho docs not protest or parade too much. "Willi enviable case he transfers a flight of canaries from one cage to another quicker than the eye can follow, or provides a coffee supper from the most indigestiblejcoking of elementariea. An appropriate enough familiar in the-shape of a skull transports itself about the slage, and, by nodding, answers all sorts oi questions with a grim humour. The so-called mentograph is introduced, and write,? on a slate inexplicably a. name thought of hy someone, and with a. couple of small cylinders and a glass and a bottle of wine some extraordinary exchanges are effected. Perhaps the most prettily striking of the artist's feats was that entitled " The Birth of Springtime," which in the main consists in the unseen introduction to a raised and previously shown empty cabinet of a daintygarlondcd. damsel, who steps out warbling sweetly Mendelssohn's spring song. Again, in "The Levitation of the Princpss Astra," the audience is highly envious of the princess's powers of floating in mid-air with no visible means of support; and in " Mimosa, a Story of Japan," to give tlio item its programmo title, anoihor elaborate act is submitted, consisting mainly in Ike locking and tying up of one .young lady in a trunk (which process was, by the way, carried out by an individual from the audience who had a desire and fair conception of how to carry out a little entertainment of his own), tho placing of (lie box and another young lady in a curtained cabinet, and the, almost immediate substitution of the one assistant for the other. In "A Legend of Persia" finally a singular disappearing effect is achieved. Such is an idea of what Czerny can do, and if he to some extent follows in the wake of other entertainers of this kind who have visited this city, he is a master of his art, has a marked individuality, and provides a capital entertainment that will amply repay the seeing. Czerny's assistance on the programme consists mainly of a brief but well-chosen series of animated picture scenes, from which " The Carnival at Venice" must be singled out as a. super-excellent contribution, the others being mainly of the humorous hind. Miss Topping has a sweet soprano voice, and her rendering of an illustrated ballad was well worthy of inclusion ill (he programme, and added an agreeable variety to the same. The audience was throughout exceedingly appreciative and well pleased. A capital orohostra, left nothing lacking in the way of music. Czerny will appear again this evening.

AUIAUBHA THEATRE. The present week's programme at (he Al-lramhi-a Theatre, judged by the applause and rocs'.lls last evening, retains, its popularity. The dainty Gibson Girls and the Rowoll Sisters, who supply the. danseuse element, ore ex-el-lent artists in Mop and postnrc dancing/aJid also display good taste in '.he arrangement and selection of their costumes. Tlio Sheldon vontriloqnial turn is one of the strong attraction!!, and while there is nothing out of Ihe ordinary in tho manipulation of the "dunirmr,," the ventrilcquial part of the turn in humorous and the imitation!) perfect. The clever jugglery of 'Walker and Ifugbcs is also a popular " turn," and the Ibsons, with their selections on mandolins, scxaphnnc. clarionet, banjo, and piccolo never fail to evoke a recall. The animated pictures of Niagara Falls ore well worth witnessing, and the fiinnvisnit of the new end men. the laughable comedietta with which the performance clones, and tho specialties introduced by the other performers all assist to make up a. really good programme. Tho same performance v.-iii he lepc.'.tcd this evening.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Mr R. G. Knowles brought his Duuedin season to a close at His Majesty's Theatre last evening. Those present were apparently well pleased with the entertainment, Mr Knowles retaining their interest throughout and providimr. them with a great deal of amusement. Mrs Kncivles's banjo solos were excellently played, and were received with the approbation that their undoubted merit doscrved.

ST. PATRICK'S EYE CONCERT. A good programme lie-? been prepared for the annual St. Patrick's Eve concert, which is to lie given to-night in His Majesly'3 Theatre. It is made up largely of selections from Irish melodies, and as p, very gfcit number of tickets have been sold a large attendance is confidently looked for.

DUNEDIJf CITIZENS' BAND. The Citizens' Band held a, very successful compsvition for junior members in Messrs Charles Bq»g and Co.'s showroom lust evening. Mr D. AVishart kindly officiated as judge. Six members competed, and the judge complimented the players on tho performance given. Mr J. Ojliver succeeded in carrying off ihe first prize, and Mr L. Campbell the second. As tho band considers this a good way ot bringing on tho young players it is intended to hold another of theso cpppetjlioßS at.aj #vrly, &(«■