ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15028, 28 August 1922, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

NICOLA—TO-NIGHT. At the Theatre Royal this evening, for one night only, under the direction of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., the famous magician, Nicola, will appear. Nicola's opening act is divided in five scenes, in each of which he represents a conjuror whom the magician has met in his travels. The first scene is at the Emperor's Court in Pekin, with Ching Ling Foo as the central figure. A street in India is the next, scene. Impersonating a famous Hindu Fakir, Hassan Bux, Nicola places a lady in a basket and then passes a sword through it. He also burns and restores a turban. In Egyptian surroundings, as Prince Rameses, he creates a beautiful lady out of a rag, a bone and a hank of hair, and transforms himself from one individual to another. Nicola's next impersonation is that of an eccentric burlesque magician from the Argentine in a series of amusing feats. The mystery of the glass house of Diogenes, a display of sleight of hand work, card manipulation, the "Astral Bride" and the silver spirit band are included in

the evening's work. In the second act Nicola performs what is said to be an astonishing levitation experiment, passing a loop and slick all round the floating lady. The Simla seance, in which the audience are treated to spirit phenomena and a clever substitution mystery in which in less than two seconds Nicola disappears from view and takes the place of a lady who has been tied In a bag and roped in a box, are amongst the many clever illusions this famous magician is said to perform during the evening. The box plans are on view at Paul's, where heavy booking has been recorded. KING'S THEATRE. There was a well-pleased audience on Saturday evening which punctuated the screening of the pictures with applause. The chief attraction was the appearance of the celebrated actor of stage and screen, Duslin Farnum, in his virile tale of Southern Seas, "The Devil Within," in seven acts. Farnum's acting in the part of a domineering captain of the type of the notorious Bully Hayes was a powerful piece of work of most convincing character. Sunshine's comedy, "Love and War," in two reels of unadulterated fun, Mutt and Jeff in a small cartoon, and a very interesting bracket of gazettes allied to choice music, completed a first-class entertainment, which will be shown again to-night, and also to-morrow evening. WANDA HAWLEY AT FRANKTON. j Large numbers were turned away on Saturday evening when Wanda Hawley in her smart and interesting picture, "The Snob," Hoot Gibson in his Western thrill, "Sure Fire," and a

big comedy in two reels, provided excellent entertainment. The pictures will be shown again to-night. The popular serial, "The Branded Four," will show to-morrow. Community chorus singing preceded the films on Saturday, led by Mr R. Blackie; it was a great success. THEATRE ROYAL. Three big film features were relensed on Saturday before a packed house that was markedly appreciative. The •pictures were widely varied in character and there was something to suit all tastes. Winsome Wanda Hawley, Paramounl's pleasing star of charming personality, scored in her j latest play, "The Snob," a story of college life, and one of the best of its

class seen here. For the patron who relishes action, vigour, and vim in a photo-play, there was that clever chap. Hoof, Gibson, in Universal's thrilling Western drama, "Sure Fire," and a remarkable monkey comedian tickled the risible faculties of all in "The Monkey Hell Hop." The music was another pleasing feature. Seats for to-morrow evening should be reserved at Paul's. There will be no pictures to-night. DIXIE TROUBADOURS. The Dixie Troubadours will appear at the Town Hall, Hamilton, to-morrow (Tuesday) night. Of this combination a northern paper said:— A bright combination is the Dixie Troubadours, who opened at the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night with the company headed by Jolly John Larkins, and submitted an excellent programme of vocal, dancing, humorous and 'Harmonious items, all of which appealed to the varied tastes, and were thoroughly enjoyed by the large audience. The programme opened with a lively chorus and was followed by a full minstrel first part. A series of individual turns, interspersed with amusing patter, lends distinct variety to the entertainment. Mr Jolly John Larkins, the premier comedian of the show, appeared in vocal numbers, in addition to dispensing amusing patter, all of which was received with great enthusiasm and shrieks of laughter. Mr Larkins has been described as the "Rajah of Mirth," and his work fully justifies this. Others in the company are Miss Rose Hawthorne, soprano; Miss Maudie Mills, soubrette; Miss Violet Hawthorne, contralto and pianist; Mr Irving Steele, comedian; Mr' Reg. Moore, monologue and sketch artist, and the Dixie Quartette. SAWING THROUGH WOMAN

Crowded houses at Fullers' Theatres recently have been left completely baffled by an act, presented by Mr P. T. Selbit, which appears to touch the summit of the art of sensational illusion. A woman, by no means of small stature, was bound tightly with ropes by four men of the audience. Two of them tightly manacled her wrists, another her ankles, and a fourth took a grim delight in drawing the rope closely round her neck. Thus helpless she was placed in a wooden box, after it had been closely inspected and lifted by one of the audience from one part of the stage to another to prove that it. was a box complete in itself, and offered no passage underneath the stage. The box was then locked and placed horizontally on supports a foot or two up from the floor. Into the box, and criss-crossing it in all directions were passed from one side to the other slabs of glass and blades of steel. Then the box was sawn completely in halves. And out of it the woman was carried, just as she had entered it, closely hound with the ropes. The illusion was the more mystifying because of the cleanness of the performance.

This sensational attraction will be presented at the Town Hall, Hamilton, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night.