THE LORGNETTR

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1024, 13 August 1898, Page 17

THE LORGNETTR

By Pendennis,

HELLEE's'Mahatma'tCompany has opened at the Opera House for a short season, and though the business done has not been up to average, the show is nevertheless an excellent and highly entertaining one. The performance is mystical, it is amusing, and it is also attractive by reason of good music and interesting cinematographs pictures. Mr Heller is a very clever conjurer, and _he fairly raises the hair of his audience by his startling accomplishments. His cabinet scene is very good. Mr Heller also sings some firstclass comic and character songs, which form a pleasant feature in the programme.

Madame Heller is a wonder. She writes the initials of particular people in the audience on a blackboard, and then says what thought is in the mind of the individual indicated. In almost every instance, the person referred to confesses the correctness of the thought interpretation. One man on Tuesday night was wondering whether he would ever get back £500 he had deposited in a bank in Melbourne. ' That's true,' said the man, rising up in his excitement. ' I paid the money in in 1856, and was away for a long time, and now I cannot get it.' Somebody else was wondering when the next fire would take place. Madame Heller replied that there would be a big fire in ten weeks, and it would destroy a large corner hotel. Tom Foley, of the Shakespeare, was Bitting in the front row, and he instinctively felt in his pocket for his insurance policy.

Miss Vera Havlock's skirt dancing act is a charming one, and especially so with the dissolving views thrown on the coatnme. Miss Talma sings a good soprano song, and Mr Percy Abbott is good as a patter singer, ban joist and raconteur. Altogether, the show is a capital one, and well worthy of patronage. The concert given by the Young Ladies Orchestra in the Choral Hall on Monday evening was quite a success, and a distinct improvement on the several concerts by other societies that had preceded it. The instrumental numbers were all admirably executed, Miss Florence Thorpe very ably acting as conductor. Mrs Chambers was in better voice, and sang charmingly, while the song ' Jerusalem,' by Key. A. Mitchell, waß splendidly given. So also was the glee by male voices. Miss Ethel Myers, who was an excellent pianiste, played a solo delightfully.

Harmston's Circus concluded its Adelaide season last week, and is now doing the country districts. Edwin Geach writes from Shanghai to the effect that Carl Hertz continues to do very big business there. Harry Kickards expects before long to be running four permanent houses in Australia— one in each colony with the exception of South Australia. Mdme. Belle Cole, owing to the serious illness of her mother, has been obliged to cancel all her engagements in England, and return to the United States. Harry Plimmer, who has signed on for twelve months with the Firm, has gone to Melbourne, and will probably commence his engagement at the Princess with the Knight-Ferrar Company. For cast-iron cheek some New Zealand amateurs take the bun. They recently wrote to ' the Firm ' asking permission to produce ' The Geisha ' in New Zealand, before it had even been Btaged in ustralia. — Sportsman.

There is only one Official Catalogue for the coming Auckland Industrial and Mining Exhibition, and Geddia and Blomfiald have the sole rights to it.