ALHAMBRA THEATRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2955, 2 November 1910, Page 69

ALHAMBRA THEATRE.

Hanco Defeated. i Ths varied attractions which figure in j the new urogram me prison ted on Oct. 31 ; at the Alhambra Theatre attracted a full attendant to all parts of the house. Mr Garden Wilson gave a remarkably stroric turn, which included imparsonations of several histrionic celebrities in such pieces as " A Little Ray of Sunlight" and the old tram,n in "A Message from Mare." ; In the latter Mr Wilson, who, however, was j good all through, was perhaps most can- j vincing. He shines with especial lustre in i his impersonation or Mr Rickaby, and his policeman last nicrht equalled in excellence that comedian's favourite- burlesque, " My Grandmother's Shawl." Mr T. Vivian, a baritone with a fall and fine voice, made a prepossessing first apocarance with "Tho wreck." Miss Pearl Hellmrich still retains a place on the programme, and her hole! upon popuiar favour. Miss Cecilo Stephano last night sang " Violets," and was eminently successful in her rendering of "My ain folk." Miss Nellie Searle scored a success with her ballad, " She's seventeen on Sunday." Mr Harrv Sadler is again well to the fore in a laughable sequence of clover absurdities. His turn is one of tho best on the bill, and should add to his reputation as a comedian. The picture? shown have a great deal to recommend them, especially from a dramatic stand- I point, though, as usual, t.hey would seem j to have been selected with a view to making an appeal to all tastes. Tho " sensation " of the evening, lasting almost the whole night, was undoubtedly the binding of "Hanco, tho Handcuff King." Hanco liad already freed himself from the strait jacket, and then submitted to be bound by two jounar experts. Ho was }

enmeshed with a. long, strong: rope, which, having " the policeman" grip above both elbows, pinioned his right arm to his chest and his left to the small of his back. A couple of turns round hi 6 neck prevented jhis arms from moving down, and turnj tight round the thighs prevented upward movement. An elaboration of coils round l th& arms and body did the rest; but, tq make quite sure, the rope was cleverly rove in a series of subsidiary hitches, eaorj tightening: and supporting, though not dependent on, one another. His fingers weri also lightly bound, and the rope at nearly all junctures secured with what ar« technically termed " seizings." It tooK 17£ minutes to bind Hanoo, and as he stoo<| trussed and helpless in the centre of thfl stage it seemed patent to all that his unaided escape from such toils was bevonp; the limits of possibility. This was at 10.10. In 5£ minutes Hanco had the fingers of his right hand free. Then after 40 minute* of rolling, tugging, and wrestling, it was seen that ho had not gained' a quarter oi an inch cm his bonds. Seventy-five pe». cent, of the spectators left at 11 o'clock, and some of those remaining became some* what rowdy, frequently howling at th« fettered unfortunate on the stage. Ai( about 11.50 the rope was severed, but owdnti to the cunning with which he had beer* lashed, this made Hanco none the freer* At 12.15 he gave in. Hanco's performance as billed is interesting, and' it seems a pity that," for the sake of a wager, with! which the public has no earthly these items which Hanco does should be omitted for the sake of a eorrji exhibition, which bores everyone btit a teyi brazen-throated eccentrics.