HUGARD'S WONDER SHOW.

Waipa Post, Volume V, Issue 209, 2 May 1913, Page 3

HUGARD'S WONDER SHOW.

The local Town Hall was packed last night on the occasion of the visit of Hugard and his band of entertainers. The light-

ing of the hall was once again ! very inadequate, so much so that the performers were at a disad- • vantage on account of a lot of detail work being lost to the audience' But despite this, Hugard showed very clearly that his advertisement “ The world’s greatest magician ” is not an idle boast. Every item was received with greatest interest, each act being well worth seeing. In opening the programme Hugard mystified the audience by several card tricks. In the latter part of this performance he was responsible for no end of amusement by causing the two local scrutineers, who were with him on the stage, to do exactly I what they had determined not to I ! do. As a sleight-of-hand per- ; J former Hugard is superb, and j i from start, to finish he held the j audience spell-bound. His great i rifle act is marvellous. Rifles I loaded under the strict scrutiny j, of persons selected by the audi- j cnce are discharged from the J back of the hall and the ! spent bullets and shells, which bad been previously marked, are identified. The whole of this act js done in full view of the audience, and without the assistance of innumerable odds and ends j scattered about the stage, as is so i often the case at entertainments j of its kind. This fact was distinctly noticeable throughout, the stage being, from beginning to end, kept as clear as possible, whilst Hugard was always in full view or the audience. The great Oriental act —a night in a Chinese palace—was one of the most fascinating performances ever witnessed by a local audi-j ence. In this act, dining which | the stage is a blaze of oriental ■ grandeur and effect and not a } word is spoken, wonder after j wonder is performed in a most i amazing manner. The variety | of subjects, the quickness, the) regularity and the success of each item mystifies the audience. There seems to be no end to the capabilities of this wonderful and skilled worker of magic. Miss Myra Emngton was well received by the audience, her singing, and xylophone and musical disc numbers being much appreciated.

There was not a dull moment from beginning to end, and this entertainment of its class is second to none which has formerly appeared on the local platform. Public appreciation may be gauged by the expressed opinions of those present, and that Hugard’s entertainment was appreciated is evidenced by the fact that on all sides is to be heard expressions of regret that there is not a second performance at Te Awamutu.