HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1570, 28 September 1905, Page 3

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

"THE HUGARDES.”

Tho ontoriainmont given by the famous Hugntdos last night was » groat saooess m every rospoct. Thoro was a large attend' aneo, and the audiouco showod keen approoiation of the many wonderful things Bhown them. The moat startling feat waß undoubtedly that of 11 Invulnerability, ’’whilo the prettiest was tbo mesmeric seanoe. Three bullets, supplied o.t marked by membors of the audienoe, are loadod by Dal Hugarde in rifles hold by voluntoers in view of the audienoe. The voluntoers then maroh baok to the pit and stand on a form, ready _to firo. Joan Hngatde, who has so far simply sat and watobed the proceedings, rises from his seat and holds before his breast a square of blaok velvet on whioh a heart shows out in red as a target for the marksmen. Bang 1 go tbo rifles as the order to firo at the heart is given, and the three marked bullets fall from the velvet shield on Jean Hugarde into a plato beneath. The plate was at once brought to the audienoe for inspootlou, and tho ballets were duly verified. The feat was accorded vory warm

I applause, and there was muoh speoala tion among the audienoo as to how it was done. In the afterI uoou tho foal was performed by the Hugardos before a number of gentlemen who had been invited for the oooasion, and all wore warm in their praiße of tho skill showri. The mesmeric seance was undoubtedly tho prettiest thing of the i kind ever seen on a New Zealand stage. Articles of all kinds were suspended in the air without visible material support, the I

olimax being roaohed when a young lady was sospendod in this way. The lady, in tho full glare of the limelight, while lying on the stage, is seen to rise slowly in a horizontal position; a hoop being passed from head to foot to show that there aro no stage appliances. Then the lady descends, and gradually passes from view. The puzzled and admiring spectators were warm iu their applause of this beautiful and completely mystifying soene. Another illusion about which a great deal has been hoard, and which was as mystifying as the others, was that termed 11 Creation.” A glass aquarium is placed on the stage, and after being put to a severe test to show that it is all that il appears to be, it ie filled with water, and a beautiful girl appears disporting in the water. There is no illusion about that,

but how she came to be there mystified everyone. Another mystification was that of the vanishing lady. She ie seated on a chair, and covered with a cloak ; on removal of the cloak the ohair is found to be empty. A large corded box that had been suspended in view of th# audience was lowered, untied and unlocked, and another box lifted out of it. and in the latter still another box was disolosed; the missing lady being fonnd therein, muoh to the astonishment of the audience.

The juggling feats, oard tricks, eto„ were new and splendidly done. Jean Hugarde,

attired as a Japanese magician, gave a grand display of the marvels of Eastern magic, the most surprising being the thumb tie trick and silver rings, which have already been fnlly desoribed. The musioal »)o>:tion of the programme was of high merit. Miss Esther Norden is a pianiete of muoh skill. Miss Louie Fisher, who is a fine singer and has a good stage presence, was enthusiastically encored for her singing of "I’m trying so hard to forget you” and " Sweet Adeline,” while Mr Kodie was in great demand for his comicalities. A splendid set of animated pictures were shown by the great Warwick maohino.

The stage effects and lighting were specially good. The Company should have a very successful season in Gisborne.