PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1703, 3 August 1875, Page 2

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

THE FAKIR OF OOLU.

A LARGE and fashionable audience crowded the Prince of Wales Theatre last night to witness the inaugural performar.ee of Dr. Silvester, the "Fakir of Oolu," and no audience, we will venture to say, has ever left the Theatre better pleased with their f evening's entertainment. The nature of thej v Fakir's exhibition is not sufficiently explained in the word " Thaumaturgist," which appears in the bills, and means simply conjuror, or miracle-worker. Dr. Sylvester is no ordinary conjurer. He is not oae of those illusionists who are content withf the mere visionary deceptions which sleight-r of-hand produces. . Although this element enters into his achievements, it is not the., prominent feature of them. Like the worldrenowned Professor Pepper of the Polytechnic he is familiar with, and largely introduces\ the wonders of science to assist his manual dexterity which is itself fully equal to that of Heller or Professor Anderson. Superadded to his accomplishments of hand and brain, the Fakir has in an especial degree deI veloped the useful "gift of the gab," so - indispensable to a first-class professor of the i art of mystery. Dr. Silvester, during ther^ performance of his feats, keeps up a quiet, gentlemanly, sparkling flow of humourous and witty accompanying remarks, which maintain the audience in perfect good humour throughout, and constitute in them- . selves a pleasant divertissement. None of the illusionists whom we have seen perform at home or in the colonies have displayed such a happy perfection in this portion of their art. The programme of last night was ~ divided into three parts, of which the first v consisted mainly of tricks of sleight of hand. ? Most of these we have seen attempted before but never done so cleanly and so well. The Fakir's ready method of producing at a moment's notice any flower from a cauliflower (which one of the audience thinking no doubt to puzzle the Professor, asked for) to a daisy, might afford a hint to our local gardeners who with every advantage of soil and climate produce little or nothing as a rule. The learned lion "Leo" was an extraordinary illusion, and created as much fun and wonderment as any part of the performance ; the favourite solution being | that the trick is effected by ventriloquism.' The second part introduced the enchanted lady who while under the influence ; of |: mesmerism is suspanded in the air with one / arm resting on a golden staff - apparently her only support. This feat provoked loud and deserved applause. The lady was made Mj||| the will of the Fakir to assume various | characters, classical, historical, and poetical ( The changes were effected by means of clever arrangements of drapery and position, ; the taste exhibited in which showed the doctor to be no mean artist.1 *. The entertainer did not carry ant the more wonderful .miracle of taking > away the only support, in consequence „ as he explained, of his subject's temporary j indisposition ; but he promised this should be done next Monday. The artistio . effects of costume, we must not forget to add, are heightened by the aid of beautiful tints thrown on the figure by the aid r of a lime light. The last and crowning portion of the entertainment was tha crystal fonntain. The feature of t^ 8 is less its extraordinary than its beautiful character. A magnificent fountain of many jets occupies the centre of the stage, and throws up its delicate translucent streams to the roof. By darkening the theatre, and letting in on the spray a flood of prismatic-coloured light, the most captivating result is produced. lb is like a fairy cascade of enchantment. Not the least amusing part of the Fakir's programme were the explanations of the modus operandi oi . the tricks which he now and again vouch-. ;} safes for the enlightment of his audience, while in some cases, as for instance in the trick of passing a die through a hat, he gives a simple aud matter of fact solution ot the difficulty, in others he indulges in goodnatured sallies of wit, which provoke immense laughter. An example of this may | not be uninteresting, even second-hand. "The trick of suspending the lady in gj | air," says the Doctor, "is very simple ; sosimple indeed that you may try it any.°J--"S you, at home in your'houses. Do not seiecn . as your subject your grandmother or yo°r aunt because they won't appreciate the tan» but choose a young lady, good-looking P 1*" ferred, about 17 or 18, certainly not more 11

than 19. Get her to stand on a chair and stretch out her arms, which you must support by two sticks. It does not matter what kind of sticks ; broomsticks will do as well as any other. Then you begin the mesmeric hankey-pankey action, giving at intervals the masonic sign (here the Doctor puts his thumb to his nose, and " twiddles" his fingers, emitting at the same time a squeak somewhat resembling that of a pig being suffocated) ; keep it up for half an hour at least, till you are thoroughly tired ; then whip away the chair and you'll see the result. At the fall of the curtain, the Fakir was greeted with demonstrative applause. Asmacy were disappointed last night, it would be as well for intending visitors during the season to engage their seats beforehand. We are again indebted to Mr J. 0. Hainer for being the means of bringing to Auckland an entertainment of exceptional merit. This gentleman will be recollected as having brought here the best panorama which has ever visited Auckland.