ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4456, 21 August 1922, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

CENTRAL THEATRE PICTURES TO-NIGHT. “SAWING THROUGH A WOMAN.” A remarkable illusion, billed as “Sawing Through a Woman,” is to be seen to-night. Of the performance at Waihi the local paper says: Last night the audience was completely mystified. Op the stage was placed an empty oblong box with a hinged door, and Mr Sclbit gave some explanation of the sensational act to be performed. After calling upon four persons to act as a committee he explained that the box was roughly made, as one was destroyed nightly, and said that, there were four small holes in it to permit the cords attached to the youpg lady’s neck, wrists, and ankles being passed through from the inside and fastened or. the outside. There were also several long slits through which several sheets of plate glass were later passed through, the box, while the ’ young woman was bound and locked inside it. Before proceeding to the more thrillins part of the performance Mr Selbit called upon the young woman to tap upon the inside of the box, which she did to show that she had not escaped by any means. In addition to the sheets of; glass two sheets of steel were also thrust through the box from side to side. large cross-cut saw was then produced, and Mr Selbit and an assistant sawed the box through the centre into two complete sections and on tlrese being drawn apart the young woman was found tied inside, with wood shavings about her. Tags, which were attached tp the knots where she was bound, were found to be still intact. The whole sensational act was performed in full view of the audience, no curtains or dimmed stage being used to assist Mr Selbit. “SHAME.” “Shame,” the William Fox special, is the attraction for to-night, and is claimed to be one of the greatest pictures of' the year. In it the power of suggestion is clearly shown. That fine young actor, John Gilbert, is told by ar unscrupulous person .in tne story that he is a half-caste. The suggestion preys on his mind. Soon he believes he sees his features changing tp thpse off ,a half-caste. In the mirror he sees reflected what has been told him. A haunting shadow follows him wherever he goes—at least, he .thinks it. does. When his baby is born he sees in the child’s face the resemblance to the creature he believes himself to be. It is an astounding theme and a weird situation. Around it the authors have wover a marvellous story of what happens to a man who becomes obsessed with ,a fixed idea. Not until the suggestion is withdrawn and tne man learns the truth does the haunting shadow leave him and his mind Returns to normal.