THE CHUNG LING SOO SEASON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1008, 1 July 1909, Page 16

THE CHUNG LING SOO SEASON.

MR. RICKARDS’ TIV.OLI VAUDEVILLE COMPANY AT HIS MAJESTY’S. CROWDED HOUSES AND ENTHUSIASTIC APPRECIATION. Mr. Rickards’ Tivoli Vaudeville Company, now visiting Auckland, with Mr. Allan Hamilton in the capacity of manager, contains some of the best vaudeville artistes that have ever visited New Zealand. It is certainly a strong combination, every “ turn being genuinely good and exceptionally interesting. The bright and particular star is, of course, “ the Great and Only Chung Ling Soo,” whose fame has spread across the five continents, and of -whom it may be well said that he stands head and shoulders above his! fellows in his own particular line of .business. A conjurer from his youth up, he does some old and many new things with a simple ease and grace that charms and delights every ■ beholder. His show is perfectly mounted, with nothing lacking in the way of picturesque detail to lend effect to a'singularly attractive spectacle. During his turn of 40 minutes we are •safe in saying that the large audiences that are nightly assembling to witness his performances experience a greater variety* of sensations than would be possible in any other show. That they i are entertained, amused, and even de- ; lighted goes without saying. But be- • yond that they are mystified and bewildered, by the startlingly sensational developments of the conjurer’s skill. Even the old tricks are accomplished in such a masterly fashion that they .take on the guise of new ones, and the bland simplicity of the master magician, his quiet but evident enjoyment of the whole business, and the manner in which he literally “shakes hands with himself,” as the audience notifies its enthusiastic approval of each succeeding trick, affords an interesting study in itself. Chung Ling Soo is evidently a man in a million, and everything he does, from the making of an omelette in a pan into which he breaks four eggs, and from which he extracts, in some mysterious fashion, as many doves, after frying the eggs over a lamp fed by methylated spirits, up to the great lamp and cauldron tricks, bears tribute to the greatness of his powers as a Twentieth Century magician. Mr. Chung Ling Soo is assisted all through the chapter by his wife, a graceful little lady concerning whom a great deal might be said, for much of the unique entertainment provided would be im-,-possfble of accomplishment but for her.

Wearing the robe of a military mandarin, with its five-clawed dragon gold embroideries, Mr. Chung Ling Soo moves above the stage so quietly and handles everything so deftly that even did he merely present the old tricks to which we have grown accustomed they would be invested with a freshness and a charm that would prove irresistibly But his illusions are so suggestve of new creations that it would almost appear as if his business in life was simply to produce and reproduce beautiful things—camellias and narcissi from flower pots filled with sawdust, beautiful Chinese maidens from the invisible world —in reality there is but the one figuring all through the performance, Mrs. Chung Ling Soo —live rabbits, guinea pigs, fowls and ducks from cauldrons of i boiling water and finally to produce "Mrs. Hoo herself from the same extraordinary receptacle. Borrowing rings from’ ladies in the audience, he fires them apparently through a pistol into some sealed boxes, and restores them !to their owners with little souvenirs (attached, that .will probably be treasured for many days to come. He ■gures as a veritable fire-eater, and Belches forth flame and smoke like ■ 'miniature volcano. The best If .the' big tricks are associated Brith Mr's. Chung Ling Soo’s remark-

able appearances in the most unlikely places. Five cube-shaped boxes, each painted to represent dice, are placed upon an open pedestal; a cube-shaped cylinder is swung on to the stage and drawn over the boxes. A moment later it is lifted again; the boxes have disappeared and a beautifully-dressed Chinese lady steps down from the pedestal, although the cylinder was certainly as empty as the cubes when placed in position. Again, a glass lamp, the sides of which are clearly visible, is placed in position; a lighted torch is thrust through it in every direction; then it is whirled round at a great rate; Chung Ling Soo fires a pistol twice, and, before the lamp ceases to revolve, the Chinese lady is again seen to be inside. As it is brought to a standstill she opens one of the sides of the lamp and steps out on to the stage.. And then there is the cauldron trick already referred to. It is all very mystifying and subtly entertaining, and everyone almost goes aw iy voting Chung Ling Soo “a perfect marvel.” And so he is.

We have said the company is a good one. It includes Madame Camille Crawford, a ballad singer of some repute, who has a pleasing soprano voice —sweet, but scarcely robust enough to be heard to the best advantage; Master Ray McLean (“ Australia’s Little Tich”), a youngster of some nine or ten years at most, who dances very quaintly and who is becoming a great favourite; Stewart and Lorraine, the “ musical experts,” whose selections on banjos, mandolins,, sleigh bells and the tubular harp, etc., are a treat in themselves; Ted Kelman, a comic character vocalist, who is making a good impression here; the Two Wheelers in their comedy cycling tricks; the Australian Dartos, whose dancing is cer-

>! nly of the wierdest and most fascinating description, and must be seen to be appreciated, and the Two Bells, described as “two of England’s leading Terpsichorean artistes direct from the Alhambra Theatre, London.” The turns are all good, and the incidental music provided by the orchestra, under the direction of Herr Diedrichsen,

adds greatly to the attractiveness of the programme. There will be a matinee performance on Saturday', and a complete change of programme on Monday, the final performance in Auckland being announced for to-mor-row week.