TOWN HALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1454, 7 March 1918, Page 32

TOWN HALL.

MALINI.

A FAMOUS MAGICIAN.

In the world of magic the name Malini stands for the very best. He is the accredited king of prestidigitateurs and has had the honour of appearing before the King and Queen of England, the crowned heads of Europe and the Presidents of France, America and China. In England. Malini has entertained the Duke of Portland, Lord Derby, Lady de Grey, Alfred de Rothschild, the Right Hon Arthur J. Balfour, and Members of the House of Commons and has had many special engagements to appear in the most exclusive clubs in England and America. Malini is described as “The Napoleon of Magic,” and, unlike other magicians, he dis penses with adventitious aids in mystifying his audiences. He has no paid assistants or confederates; he courts the closest scrutiny in performing his tricks, and in many of them his patrons participate. He likes to get among his audience, and the entertainment becomes a huge private party at which all the guests

thoroughly enjoy themselves. Malini in addition to his magic art is possessed of a wonderful fund of humour, and he tells a story in an inimitable manner and with an appropriateness which enhances the enjoyment of the entertainment. During his recent season in Wellington one of his most interested patrons was the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, who, with other members of the Cabinet, was completely baffled by Malini. On one occasion, when appearing before the late King Edward, His Majesty was so fascinated by one of the card tricks that Malini was requested to repeat the trick three times and to include it in the programme for a future Royal command appearance. It is by the merest chance that the public of the Dominion will be given an opportunity of seeing this wonderful artist, as when he arrived in Wellington he had no intention of appearing publicly in New Zealand, but he has been induced to give a limited number of entertainments in

the main towns. The Auckland season commences in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Saturday evening, March 9. The box plan for reserved seats is now open at Wildman and Arey’s.

Mr. and Mrs. John Fuller, senr., of Auckland, are at present on a visit to Mount Cook. * * * *

The number of people on the salary list of the “Dick Whittington” pantomime in Melbourne is 374. The piece has been running since Christmals, week, and is booming bigger than ever.

Miss Ada Reeve continues her good work of entertaining the sick in Australia, be they soldiers or civilians. When she last visited the Austin Hospital and gave a matinee entertainment, many of the patients remembered her as a little girl in England, when she played such parts as Little Willie in “East Lynne,” which is a far cry to the world of fame she has since achieved.