NORWOODS AND VON ARX.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1408, 8 April 1912, Page 3

NORWOODS AND VON ARX.

HYPNOTISM AND MAGIC. Tlid chief theatrical attraction foi' Eii-der in Wellington is a combination of those two rather uncommon elements in Iho show business—hypnotism and magic. "Be a hypnoibt and make fun and money." run., <, ]j m . j„ a c urrenl advertisement. After .--.-pins- Profc.->or Norwoods remarkable demonstration al. the I,'peiy House one is inclined to believe I flat then.' may be some justihealion for [he claim-, made in the advertisement, if tnuse (akiajr up the study could achieve anything like the proficiency of the visitor. It is, ol course, open to anyone to doubt the extent of his powers to'dominate the mind ol it) per cent, of those who ventured on the stage, as was the case on Saturday evening; to even doubt that any i)l the nine were under hypnotic jnlluencn; but doubters must then concede that Prolessor Norwood travels with him a company of highly-skllcd actors, whose salaries must bo a continual source of worry to the management. To the latter alternative we cannot subscribe. Professor Norwood makes no attempt to disguise that some of his subjects travel with him ; so they did with Professor Kennedy and -Madame Corn, professional exponents of hypnotism of a couple of decades ago, still these people are certainly sent to sleep and as surely do amazing and screamingly funny things at the suggestion of the controlling mind. Thirteen men, including several who were recognised as belonging to Wellington, formed the committee of subjects on Saturday night, of which four were rejected as unsuitable after a test. This consisted of the Professor inviting them to clear their minds of all other thoughts, gaze into the pupil of his right eye, and imagine themselves falling backwards or forwards (as the hypnotist directed). Having selected liis committee they were sealed in a semicirclo of chairs, and all were asked to clasp their own hands together. Having done this, he "willed" them not to release them, arid at the same moment defied them to do it. Tlie struggles of the nine to release themselves from their own clutches raised shrieks of laughter in all parts of the house. Then they were asked to move their hauls up and down as if playing cymbals, and to gradually increase' the pace. In this highly-ridicufous "speed-up" ono of the "committee" fell heavily on the floor from his chair, and rolled on his back with his hands still whirling up and down with marvellous speed. In bringing one subject to after this comical performance, ho almost stood on his head with the .shuck. Another post-hypnotic suggestion, which created the most uproarious merriment, was that where they are supposed to be smeared all over with molasses. .Some scraped the treacle of imagination from their clothes others wiped it oft' with their handkerchiefs, whilst gazing with illuminative expressions of disgust at their sticky lingers. The hypnotic orchestri was also an excellent joke in its way. The uncanny in hypnotism was a demonstration in eata•lcptic hypnotics. One young man, obviously one of the troupe, was asked to grip the side of his trousers, tauten every muscle, and believe himself to bo the strongest man in the whole world. Suddenly, under the eye of the Professor, the bedy became as rigid as bar-iron, it was .suspended on the backs of two chairs by the nock and ankles, and four big men were asked to stand on the trunk for five or six seconds. There could be no argument as to the genuineness of this rather uncanny performance. Perhaps the most interesting and convincing interlude in that part of the programme devoted to hypnotics was a demonstration of mind-control given by Professor and Mi-s Winifred Norwood. The members cf the audience are asked to supply mind pictures or acts they wished performed by the lady, and having collected a variety, lie w'iils the lady,' who is hypintised and blindfolded, to conic down into the audience, and then, with the aid of the note? he ha? taken, he thinks and sin; executes the various acls. without a word being .-poki'ii and yards apart right among tlie.''audience. One gentleman suggc-fed that the lady should take his handkerchief from one porkef, his knife from another, and cut the corner off the former on which the initials were inscribed. Another suggested that she should lake his programme and insert it in the mouth of one of the committee on th' 3 stage. There was a slight hesitancy on occasions, but in lire end every sug;;e--tion was executed unerringly. Professor Norwood offers the house receipts any night to anyone who can make a suggestion within reason that cannot be carried out. Von Arx, who provided the first part of the programme, is a brother of Nicola, the American dealer in magic and spells, who visited Wellington last year, and to whose tricks and illusions those shown on Saturday evening bear a strong family likeness. A short-skirted lady appears in and disappears from boxes and canopies miraculously, (ho old, old casket aml sword illusion is revived, and our old friend the King of Diamonds arises from the enchanted pack with his old-time agility. Of a truth there is nothing new under (he sun in the "black art," yrf it exerts a glamorous charm from winch there is no c.-cspo. George Murphy, a comic juggler, raised laughter and amazement in his amusing act. Tlie entertainment will be continued throughout the week. Professor Norwood will introduce new features into his hypnotic seance each evening. There will be a matinee performance al 2..10 this afternoon, when children will be admitted to all parts of the house at halfprice. A nrogramme especially suited to children will be presented. At Ibis evening's performance Professor Norwood will present for the first time his fascinating "Hypnotic .Sleigh-Ride," which is quite a pretty eii'eot as well as being extremely amusing. Other new features will also bo included bv Professor Norwood and Sir. Von Arx. As to-day is a holiday, the box-plan will be open for inspection at the "jnera Horse from 9 a.m.. and early-door tickets mav also be secured at the theatre.