SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1452, 21 February 1918, Page 34

SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES.

(By

“Lorgnette.”

WELLINGTON, February 18. During the past few years we have had quite a number of magicians and card manipulators touring the Dominion, but I doubt if any of them is superior to Malini, who has been showing during the past week in the Town Hall Concert Chamber. Malini stands out as one of the most effective, .if not the most unique, students of the “black art.” As far as Dominion audiences are concerned his claim is fully justified. What he cannot do with cards is not worth mentioning. To single out alone one of his many astonishing perform-* ances, a committee is invited on the stage, and several members of the audience are allowed to pick a card from the pack. Malini then borrows two handkerchiefs, and has them bound over his eyes. One of the committee then selects another pack of cards and cuts it into three piles on a table. Malini borrows a penknife, faces the three piles, stirs them around with the knife, and as fast as those in possession of cards announce them he digs his knife into the disordered array on the ta,ble and selects therefrom their companion cards. The most astonishing feat of Malini’s entertainment is when he borrows a pound note, and a ten shilling note from two members of the audience, and under close scrutiny of the audience transferred the notes from under two handkerchiefs to the interiors of a lemon and an egg. Truly a wonderful card manipulator and an artist who should have a successful tour of the Dominion.

The annual meeting of the Wellington Harmonic Society was held last week, when the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.; vice-presidents, Rev. J. H. White, Messrs. H. Allen, I. Clark, J. P. Luke, F. S. Pope, R. Parker, S. Stockbridge, and Archbishop Redwood; conductor, Mr. H. Temple White; deputy-conductor, Mr. M. D. Cameron; hon. secretary, Mr. V. R. Bennett; hon. treasurer, Mr. A. J. Blake; hon librarian, Mr. A. Paterson; hon. pianist, Miss P. I-lanify: committee, Mrs. Brewer, Miss Nicholas and Mr. E. A. Tanner; hon. auditor, Mr. C. J. Ellison. Mr. Jack Waller’s “Look Who’s Here” company opened what promises to be a successful season at the Grand Opera. House on Saturday evening. They are great favourites with. Wellington playgoers, and with a great reception from their enthusiastic admirers.