HIS MAJESTY'S.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1150, 25 April 1912, Page 16

HIS MAJESTY'S.

“THE GREAT JANSEN.” A SHOW OF BRILLIANT MYSTERY. “The Great Jansen” is unquestionably a magician of marvellous attainments and the programme he is presenting at His Theatre is a generous one; conjuring tricks, illusions and other varying devices in the magical business crowd on top of one another with great rapidity. Jansen has in his repertoire numerous tricks we have seen before, but he is so exceedingly neat and alert with his work that the repetition is by no means tiresome; in fact, it is no fulsome flattery to say that in many respects Jansen is the best exponent of his art we have seen. There is a feature about the American magician’s entertainment that is particularly pleasing. He manages to introduce some genuine humour and a variety of novelties that carry the programme forward with a merry swing. There are no dull moments. Jansen does not allow his audience to remain spell-bound between his tricks and marvel at his cleverness —there is time enough for that after the show —instead he “hustles” through with his remarkable programme. “If you nod to a friend,” the programme warned you, “you miss a trick,” and it was almost literally true. Illusion after illusion flitted before the eyes in rapid sequence. Some pleasant and mysterious fooling with eggs, the inexplicable appearance of two Geisha girls on a cabinet isolated on high trestles, were only part of what led up to the sensational escape from the electric chair. At the end of this trick one could only conclude that there were four Jansens who could assemble in one body or disperse at will. Some of Jansen’s best work was in his potted pantomime, “Down on the Farm,” in which he materialises flowers, trees, ducks, a boy and introduces a donkey which he puts through a series of antics and then, by a clever illusion, himself sheds the weird animal’s skin. The entertainment is varied by some most skilful eccentric juggling and funmaking by De Hollis while Nelson Story does some equally eccentric piano playing. These two “supports” are a decided acquisition for they are both excellent vaudeville artistes. The final and most remarkable illusion was “The Phantom Princess.” The princess lying first on a couch, rose gracefully into the air from no apparent cause, while Jansen unconcernedly sauntered down the stage. There she floated mysteriously, plain to the eyes of all, till Jansen, with a wave of his hands, dissolved her into nothingness, and the full glare of the lights (which had never ceased during the illusion) flooded an empty space. “The Great Jansen” and his company will continue their splendid entertainment until Saturday night,

when the season concludes. On Saturcl'iy afternoon a special matinee will be held. “H.M.S. PINAFORE.” TO BE STAGED ON MONDAY. That evergreen comic opera favourite, “H.M.S. Pinafore,” is to renew acquaintance with the Auckland public at His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday, when it will be staged for six evenings by the Auckland Amate ir Operatic Societ'. Rehearsals indicate that the performance will be of exceptional merit, the cast being a' verv strong one. Mr. Francis Cornwall is the musical conductor and Mr. Archdale Tayler stage manager, so that

no detail will be missing in regard to these important adjuncts. The principals include Mrs. Abel Rowe, Miss Ethel Rae, Mrs. Burke, Mr. Abel Rowe, Mr. Laurie Abrahams and Mr. Frank Adeane, all artistes far above the average and worthy to make the production stand out prominently. Amongst other good features will be the song, “The Midshipmite,” with chorus and orchestral accompaniment, and a triple hornpipe has been introduced, which should enhance the general effect. Their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Islington, have intimated their intention of being present at the opening performance, and as the warships of the Australian squadron will be in port during the opera season, the society hopes to have the patronage of the officers in command.