KING'S THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17688, 28 July 1919, Page 2

KING'S THEATRE

The King's Theatre was packed at all sessions on Saturday, the special attractiona ocing Monsieur Iβ Roy, the soldier magician, and a new and novel drama featurinir June Caprice, entitled "Miss U.S.A." Tho urst part of tho programme is devoted to tho pictures. Tho story is that an unscrupulous man named Eugene Lenoir, possessor of vast estates in Virginia, marries a .sister of Major Warfield, who dies shortly after giving birth to a daughter. Lonoir arrangos for the destruction of tho child, so as to remove all obstacles in his path to a. lortutio. The ohikl, however, unknown to Jjonoir, becomes the ward of Major Warneid. Herbert Graygon, a neighbour, and Uay Warfield, tho major's son, both fall in V?X° Wlfch tho ward > Capitola (June Caprice). When tho United States declared war on Germany Capitola takes a prominent part in tho recruiting movement. Sho becomes engaged to Herbert Grayson, and takes a prominent part in ferreting out a comprohct\slvJ? German spy system, in which Lenoii al ?d Black Diamond, his paid accomplice, while endeavouring to compass Capitola's destruction, are caught mainly through Capitola s instrumentality, and meet the fate thoy so richly deserve. The picture is a splendid one, and presents June Caprico and her intelligent Scotch collie, "Lady,"' in a pleasing and interesting manner. The second half of tho entertainment is given by Monsieur Le Roy, who, by the way, is a nephew of the famous Le Roy of Bosco, Talma, and Le Roy. Monsieur lx> Roy, who has served in the great war, and was wounded on three separate occa sions, presents a distinctly unique entertamntent, and dispenses with the usual paraphernalia of the orthodox stage magician and he has neither assistants nor conioderates. Ho is a prestidigitateur who, unhte many others, possesses a vast stock-in-trade. Most of his tricks were new, and »"ero performed in a manner which evoked noarty applause. He has a keen wit and a ready flow of patter, which greatly enhances the performance. He depends entirely on his hands, which ho uses in such a manner as to mystify his onlookers. Many of his tricks, too, are performed in tho auditorium. To attempt a description of the many clever tricks which he performs would occupy too much space. One of the best he does is to get two people m the audience, each being at opposite sides'of the building, to mark a coin each, ihese they wrap in handkerchiefs, and M ■L-e Roy causes tho two coins to pass from the one to the other. He also does quite a number of tricks with flags and with flowers, making them appear in most unlooked-for P u e t is ' b° wever . with playing cards that ho performs some very excellent tricks, in whioh the art of legerdemain is well exemplified. These are done by way of passing and palming, and are performed fn a manner which stamps him as a clever exponent of the art. In the matter of palming he does what is claimed to be exceptionally clever—namely, palming three or more cards at a time. M. Lo Roy did not oxhaust_ his stock-in-trade by any means, and this evening he will perform several new tricks.