HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20874, 14 November 1929, Page 15

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

NICOLA. The audience at His Majesty’s Theatre last night was-treated to a programme of stage i magic such as it is seldom the fortune 'of Dunedin theatre-goers to witness. Nicola proved on .his first night here that he ranks amongst. the greatest of this type of entertainers, and each performance has served to add to the number of his admirers. Nicola has an unusually wide range of tricks, not the least of which are those done by sleight of hand, though it must be admitted that the most impressive of all are those in which the ■assistance of mechanical devices is called in. The “ magician ”is an expert with a pack of playing, cards. The company of assistants is also excelleht, notably the comedian, whose juggling work is unusually good. There was also a matinee yesterday, when a good attendance watched the programme with interest. There will be another performance tonight. LATEST ATTRACTION. Newapaper columns have keen employed for many purposes, but to-day is perhaps the first time they have ever been used as a medium for locating someone who is willing to be beheaded. An advertisement in this issue speaks for itself. Nicola, who is to be the executioner, says it can be done, with no ill-effects to the victim, and that the feat will be performed at each of his performances, commencing to-night. Nicola adds that the experiment is in no way gruesome, but is presented as a scientific criminal problem of Russian' origin which has never been solved. During-the presentation of the illusion a young lady is cut into three parts, and, while her head and legs remain in full view, the body is lost. The feat has a happy ending, however, when the girl is restored to her normal state and smilingly dances off the stage.