Carl Heriz Season.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8601, 4 March 1897, Page 2

Carl Heriz Season.

Carl Hertz was greeted by an audience which packed the Academy cf Music last evening. This was not to be wondered at. The famous prestidigitator has charmed and mystified audiences in all parts of the world, and has justly earned the reputation given him of being one of the greatest illusionists of his time. He comes amongst us fresh, from triumphs gained in the Louden and Continental theatres, and with an entertainment new, novel, and highly interesting, based ou programmes given ni metropolitan towns, and thus it is his success is so great. Apart from that however, to love mystery is a popular failing, and the deeper it is the greater is its powers to attract. Carl Hertz is full of mystery. He states at the initiation of his performance that ho relies upon his quickness of hand deceiving the vision of those about him. It was well perhaps that he says so for some might otherwise iiuagiue him a wizard and capable lof doing things which under natural laws are quite impossible. Mr Hertz wants no false deductions; so long as lie keeps an intelligent audience wondering and reasoning he is quite satisfied, and last night he had this to the uttermost. His extraordinary card shuffling was the initiation of the interest felt, and as he went on extending his power over these pieces of pasteboard the wonderment of his audience grew, and it may be aaid to have culminated in the change of the denomination of the cardinstantaneously, aud vb.6n to all appearances the oae

" five of clubs " whs before their very eyas the whole time. For over an hour however Carl Hertz did with the pack in one form and another whah, if we

went into details here, would seem impossible. At the close he received very loud applause. The second part of the programme was taken up with vocal items by Mddle. D'Alton who has a sweet voice and uses it in the interpretation of selected ballads. Following this was the exhibttion of the cinematograph and as the performer is the possessor of a really good instrument the pictures are excellently reproduced and we may remark specially that they are not shown with that quivering and shaking which detracts from many of the sce.iesdepicted by some instruments. The picture which " caught on " most last evening was the representation of Persimmon winning the Derby, and most realistic it was too — one almost expected to hear the cheers for the Prince of Wales as the excited crowd ran across the course waving their hats and otherwise showing their appreciation of the gallant horse's feat; " Brighton Beach," " The Gordon Highlanders leaving the barracks at Maryhill, Glasgow," "The London and Paris express " (showing passengers alighting and entering the train), " Parliament Street London " (depicting the busy traffic), were all truo to life. Loie Fuller's Serpentine Dance, in which the dancer appeared in her wonderful dauce depicting all , the colors in her dress changing from one to another, had to be repeated. A sea cave scene was much admired, and the Czar's arrival in Paris was redemanded, as also was one or two of the funny pictures, such as " The Costume Race," " Rescued from Drowning," and " Tho Widow's Kiss." In the third part of the programme the illusionist went through another series of tricks, which being highly diverting were also the marvel of the audience, especially one known as " Le cage volante," in other words the disappearance of a canary and a cage, the latter being held by the performer while a member of the audience had his hands placed top and bottom of the bird's " abode." Subsequently a guinea pig's transition from the stage to underneath the coat of a member of the audience took place, and wit", that the performance closed. Thi6 evening will be the final opportunity of seeing Carl Hertz at the Thames. A programme different in many respects to last evening's will be given, and the cinematographic pictures have been chosen to please everybody, included amongst ■which will be a true representation of the great motor car race from London to Brighton, showthe terrific rate of speed that can be attained by this new mede of transit, and also several new comic .scenes. The " booking " to-day has been exceptionally large, and wd are con* fident there will again be a crowded house. '