LEE TOY CHUNG

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 292, 29 August 1918, Page 7

LEE TOY CHUNG

STAGE MAGIC AND HYPNOTISM. Loo Toy Chung opened his Wellington season last evening, and _ gave a clover exhibition of stage magic, which interested and mystified a largo audience at tho Grand Opera House. Oliung mado the knightly King of Hearts and the scurrilous Knave of Spades rise out of the mug at call in the same old way that has puzzled half the world. The knotted handkerchiefs persisted in adding one to the number of a different colour with the same insistency, and the cards passed here and there with tlie same "fluoncy" that has characterised them 'on (and off) the stage in all ages. Chung has a cunning way of allowing the audience to think it has "spotted the trick," and much amusement is caused by the artful way in which he shows them that "their legs have been pulled." He is (.lean in his work, and the way he "disappeared and reappeared" dainty Eastern maidens from mystic chests, swallowed lire, and produced a score of national flags apparently out of thin Air was quite entertaining. Another performer on familiar lines is Professor d'Almaine, whosa specialty is the gentle art of hypnotism of the brand that induces laughter and wonder by turns. Last evening he introduced his "hypnotised" patients into a blacksmith's shop, and persuaded them to believe all sorts of ridiculous things, with tho result that laughter unconfined was caused by their antics. His demonstrations of catalepsy and thought transference were diverting. In the latter .. Act 1 ho works with a blindfolded medium — —an act that always .mystifies the uninitiated. Professor d'Almaine displayed marked diversity by appearing as a ■ ventriloquist, with "Little Georgie" as his comical dummy friend. A very acceptable item on the variegated programme was the sketch, "A Tramp s Dilemma," in which Mr. R. J. Oswald, an actor of experience, takes the part of a tramp of intrusive habit, whose wanderings take hira into tho household of the Hon. Charles and Lady Delroy, who live in an atmosphere of boiling indignation with one another. Naturally the tramp scores off both very comically. Mr. Harry Hill and Miss Brightie Carlyle were the quarrelsome Delroys. Songs of a light and catchy order were contributed by Miss Connio Brier, Mr. Harry Hill, and Miss Brightie Carlyle. The entertainment will he repeated each evening up to and including Saturday night.