MAGIC ON THE STAGE

Southland Times, Issue 23737, 8 February 1939, Page 14

MAGIC ON THE STAGE

NICOLA DELIGHTS ANOTHER BIG AUDIENCE Giving his third programme in Invercargill Nicola delighted a big audience in the Regent Theatre last night with his amazingly executed acts of magic. There is little wonder that Nicola has the title “Great” in front of his name, for his art is as outstanding as it is completely baffling. His sleight-of-hand tricks, his illusions, and the lightning manner in which he manipulates the various pieces ’ of apparatus have been the talk of all those who have seen him, and it is little wonder that he plays to big houses every night. Whether he is driving steel spikes through a girl’s body or merely making her disappear completely, he keeps up a running fire of amusing patter and makes his tricks appear ridiculously simple. He is more baffling than ever when he takes the trouble to explain a trick, and it is doubtful if a single member of last night’s audience could give much of an explanation of any of Nicola’s tricks. It is a long programme that is offered, but it does not at any stage lose its interest. Nicola occupies the stage most of the time and goes from one illusion to the next with a speed and showmanship that serve only to enhance the mysteries he producos. His band of helpers includes a number of charming young ladies, who are no less adept in their parts than the principal himself, and they frequently play important parts. One leaves the theatre still wondering if the lady in the iron cabinet could possibly have escaped being transfixed by the wicked-looking spikes or if the Egyptian princess who disappeared into thin air can ever be found again. But the mysteries of this sort are so numerous that one can remember only some of them while knowing that all were excellent. The Nicola Company will give three more evening programmes at the Regent Theatre this week, with a matinee this afternoon. On Friday afternoon a special matinee performance will be given for women by Miss Lucille Roberts.