THEATRE ROYAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4580, 28 February 1893, Page 4

THEATRE ROYA L.

THE STEEN-SMITH COMBINATION. There was a vary good house at the Theatre Eoyal laat night, when "the famous American mystifiers " introduced themselves to the public of Christchurcb. The entertainment they gave was excellent, one of the best of the kind ever witnessed here. It contained features which are novelties in Christchurch, and the tricku, many of which are truly mystifying, were done with the utmost neatness and smart* ness. Professor Steen, a tall gentleman, speaking exactly like an American, prefaced the programme by denouncing all spiritualistic mediums as humbugs, and announcing his readiness to produce any "manifestations" which they could. He disclaimed not only spiritualism, but hypnotism and clairvoyance. He showed himself well versed in the indispensable "patter" of the magician's business, though, it must be admitted, some tricks in which it might have been supposed " patter " was absolutely necessary, were done when he was silent. The Committee which the Professor got to " assist " him was an exceedingly good one, composed of half a dozen well-known gentlemen, who took seats on the stage, which, by-the-bye, was not by any means overloaded with apparatus. Madame Steen was then introduced, took her seat facing the audience and was blindfolded. The, Professor described her as the only "medium" in the world, and she did some things which went far to establish her claim to " mediumship." She promptly repeated a word and a number written by one of the Committee on a blackboard behind her. "The Knight's Tour" was then done by the lady with- wonderful quickness. She added up half a dozen rows of figures written on the same board, reading,, between the addition of each column, names* written en another board, also behind her back, Professor Steen being silent the. while. When figures or words were touched by the members of the Committee she promptly called them oat, and if, to test her, the pointer was placed on a blank space, she instantly taid, "There isn't any there!" One or two of the members of the Committee, at the Professor's request, thought of some one of the names or numbers, which the medium at once uttered. Then each member was supplied with paper, pencil and envelope, and wrote the date, day and hour of his birth, and enclosed the ( writing in his envelope, without showing ifc to- any of the others or to the Professor. The envelopes were taken oharge of by one of the Committee, and Madame Steen, selecting the gentlemen apparently at random according to the positions which they occupied in the row of chairs,* told each what he had written. The Committee having been drawn up in a rank : behind her chair, she told them the metal, description, jewelling and numbers of their watches, which were held f>pen so' that Professor Steen could see them. It may be safely -asßer ted, however, that no one in the audience could detect how his knowledge was communicated to her.' She occasionally displayed a little, hesitation as to numbers, and once reversed the order of the figures in one of the numbers. Two of the Committee then thought of names, which Madame Steen immediately spelled. A pack of cards having been produced, she called them, out as they / were turned up one by one. They were shuffled by one of the Committee, bnt turned up by the Professor. She also, after a couple of failures, succeeded, in picking .out a card which wsb thought., of by one' of .the Committee. This concluded the. lady's* really . remarkable performance, . and she retired ..amid... hearty applause. Professor. Steen then, .after , another onslaught, on the spiritualists, gave an efcpos6 of.'.'.spiriji.writing" on a Blate,showing how. two sharp and intelligent members of the Committee, might be hoodwinked by an exceedingly simple, but ingenious device. In the next trick, a bunch of keys. and some iron rings were; apparently, securely tied on a number of tapes, and detached by the Professor in some mysterious manner, but with the greatest, ease. This was, he stated, one of the favourite mysteries of the Davenport Brothers. . •'..;•'

..Miss Ada Fitzroy .gave one of. 'her clever memory, feats, and .announced, that she would Bhortly produce the "Georgia Magnet" performance, of which Professor Steen is. the originator." Mr Oscar Smith showed that he is an exceedingly capable ventriloquist, his distant voice-throwing was very effective, and he managed his lay figures bo aa to make them intensely amusing. His falsetto singing waa very funny. This evening the Company will give another performance, in which j.ome new features will be introduced. ...