ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17837, 9 October 1929, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

A MASTER MAGICIAN. NICOLA MYSTIFIES AUDIENCE. There is no class of entertainment that appeals more to an audience than that provided by a master magician. Something in people’s “make-up” appears io delight in being mystified, and in attempting to solve the problem of “How it is done.” And the audience attracted by an illusionist differs greatly from that seen at other entertainments. There are (he usual playgoers, of course, but in addition there are many people not often seen in the theatre—people from the country, and others not interested in the stage, but drawn by the thought of seeing something out of the ordinary. That being so, it is not surprising that a very large audience assembled at the Theatre Royal last night, when Nicola commenced a return season of two nights. Nicola is a master magician. lie proved his claim to that title when lie visited New Zealand six years ago, and last night he confirmed it. Never before has an audience been so completely mystified; never before has a magacian presented his illusions so neatly and so convincingly; and never before has an entertainer of this type been on such good terms with his audience, lor Nicola, in addition to his uncanny cleverness as an illusionist, has an ingratiating personality. The result was a show that pleased and entertained from beginning to end. Nicola made tilings disappear and rc-appear in the most bewildering fashion. At one moment a girl would he in a certain spot; the next moment she would lie somewhere else, > r apparently non-existent. Nicola himself appeared to disappear into thin air -occasionally. Some of the illusions were presented very elaborately, which of course added to their effect. “The Escaped Prisoner,” “The Three Card Trick,” “The Mysterious Trunk,” and others puzzled as much as they entertained the audipnee, while the scene in which a girl apparently had stakes driven through her was particularly mystifying. Card tricks, escapes from handcuffs, the mysterious “spiritualist” manifestation, and many other acts, most of them new, and presented to an accompaniment of gay patter, kept the audience thoroughly entertained. Nicola is certainly Ihe master magician. There is nothing of strain about his work; I lie bewildering tilings happen so easily that one hardly realise j the master hand behind them.

Ibex gave an exhibition of shadowgraph}- that was as clever as it was amusing, and comedy relief was afforded by a juggler and patter man of tlie "foolish” type. Nicola employs several attractive girls as assistants. Nicola will make his final appearance to-night, when he promises several new- illusions. His mystifying and entertaining show should not he missed. It will he many years before this master magician will return to Hamilton.

TALKIES AT CAMBRIDGE. TO COMMENCE ON SATURDAY. Saturday will be a red-letter day in Hie entertainment world at Cambridge, for it will mark the introduction of the talkies. The Western electric equipment, which is recognised as practically perfect and giving excellent results, has been installed, and will result in the programmes being equal to those to-be seen in the cities. For the opening programme “The Broadway Melody"—all talking, all singing, all dancing—lias been chosen, and a belter choice could not be made. It is said that, all pictures fade into insignificance beside this living, lilting screen drama of the Gay White Way. It is the biggest immediate hit in the annals of stage or films. Charles King (the New York musical comedy idol), Bessie Love, and Anita Page are featured in this epic of the talkies. Special arrangements are being made to cater for Hamilton patrons. Scats may he hooked at Lewis Eady’s, and a special bus service is being arranged. It is safe to say that many Hamilton people' will he among the huge audience that will crowd into the Cambridge Town Hall on Saturday (matinee and evening), and following nights.

STRAND & FRANKTON THEATRES, "Looping the Loop,” the new attraction at the above theatres, is undoubtedly one of the greatest pictures of life in the circus yet -shown in this town. One of Ihe features of the Elm is Hie most daring' act ever seen on stage or screen, it is the sensational looping the loop dive, in which the artist. Warwick Wan!, lakes a living leap from a platform hundreds of feet over Ihe auditorium to go sliding at break-neck speed down a slide to do a complete loop and finally be caught by liis partner wailing at tlie other end. The second attraction, “A Peep Behind tlic Scenes.” takes us hack to Ihe old days—the days when the travelling fair and (lie panorama were the. chief pleasures and delights oX the countryside.