BRIGHT PROGRAMME

Southland Times, Issue 20772, 13 May 1929, Page 14

BRIGHT PROGRAMME

FRANC HANALEI’S NOVELTY ENTERTAINERS. A NIGHT IN HONOLULU. Mr. Franc Hanalei and his entertainers were heard in a miscellaneous programme at the Victoria Hall on Saturday night. Mr. Hanalei opened the entertainment by giving a number of sleight of hand tricks, in which he proved himself quite an adept. He procured innumerable articles from a hat, borrowed from a member of the audience, sufficient to start a draper’s ehop, showed how to make a pill, turned bran into water, also the famous Long Tack Sam’s needle trick, and presented numerous other bewildering illusions. Amongst, his best presentations was the production of a mango tree from a pot of earth, which grew steadily until it became quite a big plant. He also entertained his audience with the famous Indian basket .trick, thrusting swords and knives through the basket after a small boy had been placed in it. Assisted with a doll of the comical order, he provided ten minutes amusement in a ventriloquist turn. Hanalei’s greatest success was in the conjuring department, in which he combines cleverness and precision. A military sketch concluded the first part of the performance. The boy and girl members of the company later sang in duet form several well-known ditties, such as “Billy Boy.” A youth, who with the lady pianist completes the company, gave a very clever exhibition of lighting sketching which was a feature of the evening. Thereafter the full strength of the company took part in playing and singing to the accompaniment of instruments peculiar to Hawaii, amongst the selections played being several familiar and popular song and jazz airs. Most of the other items were ones that were distinctly good and cleverly presented. Hanalei also presented a very successful feature by putting on four pairs of handcuffs and escaping from them, in full view of the audience. The whole entertainment was set in beautiful Egyptian scenery and the performers appeared in appropriate costumes. The excellence of the programme presented should ensure a good house this evening.