AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13803, 14 January 1909, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

AUSKELYNE • AND "DEVANT'S ' ' ,-• MYSTERIES.

Wide interest is manifested in tonight's opening at the Theatre Koyal and the visit, of a company, ot which c-vervone has,. during the. last 3U years, heard of ■ from -.homeland, -parents, or friends. The entertainment is of a. novel and peculiar kind, treaty ing of mysterious disappearances, "hosts,' and "startling tricks. Comparison is impossible, since nothing quite similar has been done in Australia, and certainly the box trick in "Will, the Witch, and the Watchman," has never previously left Britain,' where its secret was jealously guarded by Mr Alaskelyne. A fact which will, he immediately recognised by the first audience will be that this is not a one-man entertainment, but a rare and generous. combination of people, each of whom lias had separate and special offers to tour Australia as a sufficient attraction in himself. Mr Barclay Gammon, the musical monologuist, is a case in point, for three managers approached him about the same time with regard to an Antipodean round. He has blazed a new trail in entertainment, and might well invent a name to be exclusively applied to his half-hour's fun. He talks at break-neck speed, establishes jokes with the whole audience, tells stories against himself all with an abandonment of . great fun. Then comes a divine little interlude which is shyly 'funny, when you cannot be quite'sure whether he is playing Menthe "patter" which interspersed his Wouldn't Leave my Little Wooden 'ut." His musical feats are extraordinarily difficult, but this fact is half concealed by the ease with which they are. tossed off. Certainly, Mr Gammon makes an appeal to musically cultured people. Mr Owen Clark, who opened the proceedings, is an expert conjuror, and he did extraordinary tilings with such commonplace accessories as handkerchiefs, guinea pigs, doves, and playing cards, while the " patter " which interpreted his sleight-of-hand tricks was full of humour.. He closed his contribution to the attractions of the evening by producing a substantial-looking Diogenes from an empty tub in such a deft way as completely to mystify those who curiously looked on. Gintaro gives an act in a scene arranged hke one of the flowery villages of liis native land. The lithe Japanese, perfect in all he does, has revealed the beauty of delicate balance, and his sensation feats with spinning-tops, hows and arrows, and quivering towers of tubes, prove exciting episodes. His work consists not of trickery, but is the result of daily hours of practice and years of succial training. The plan is at the Dresden.