McFARLANE’S HALL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1241, 6 January 1883, Page 2

McFARLANE’S HALL.

Messhs. Kellar and Cunnabd those clever Illusionists, or ns they style themselves the Royal Illusionists, made their appearance last evening for the fourth and last time in Gisborne, and although the house was not so large as the performers deserved, yet we consider that a more enjoyable or a better performance of its kind has never been witnessed in Gisborne. There can be no doubt that Mr Kellar is a perfect wonder in the magic art and carries out the part entrusted to him with an extraordinary amount of vigor completely mystifying those present, So fur as we are able to judge, the magic articles employed by Mr Kellar were constructed on the most simple principle, and the audience if they thought proper to do so, had an opportunity of inspecting them if they sojdesircd to do. The glass bell trick last evening was exceedingly well done, and elicited frequent applause. Mr Kellar first of all exhibited it to the audience and then proceeded to place it on a brass rod, the rod resting on a pedestal. Mr Kellar then put a pack of cards into a small glass case he which placed on another pedestal close to the bell. The audience were then asked to call for the card they had previously drawn. On being called for, the cards rose one by one and in every instance proved the “ correct card.” This trick was very cleverly done, and received well merited applause. The egg and goblet trick was excellently done. A_ glass goblet was handed to a gentleman in the body of the hall. Mr Kellar then placed an egg in the goblet and a handkerchief was thrown over the goblet, the gentleman being asked to shake it in order to convince himself of the fact that the egg was still there. Mr Kellar after this went on the stage. He then got .'mother handkerchief and squeezed it in his hand, and almost immediately 1 he egg was transferred to Mi’ Kellar’s hand, and the second handkerchief, folded with great care, was discovered in the goblet Ths wonderful hat afforded a great deal of amusement. The hat was borrowed from one of the audience, and from it Mr Kellar produced a full child’s wardrobe, in the shape of dresses and the various articles necessary to clothe a baby. The wizard then proceeded to catch a number of coins, some from the whiskers of the gentlemen and the hats of the ladies. The coins were then transferred in some mysterious manner through the crown of the hat, and were jingled by the professor. The hat when returned to the gentleman who lent it for the occasion was, we need hardly state, minus the coins. The pistol and ring trick was exceedingly well done. After this came the wonderful bottle, out of which the Wizard helped his audience to supplies of every liquor concievaWe under the sun. The liquors were die- I pensed in small liquor glasses, and appeared to be fully appreciated by the spectators. But those who had partaken of the excellent liquors, as they were styled by the wonderful Kellar, were somewhat taken aback when they beheld the Professor break the bottle and produce from it a real live Guinea pig. Psycho and the other automata figures were as good as ever, and

Psycho proved himself quite equal to the task of giving answers to the most difficult arithmetical problems. Olio produced a portrait of Sir John O’Shaughnassy, the celebrated Victorian statesman, which was pronounced to be a faithful likeness, The cabinet rope-tying followed, and Kellar then proceeded to show was as sueccessful as ever. Mr how the trick was done, but we must take that gentleman’s explanation cum grano satin. These talented gentlemen, Messrs Kellar and Cunard leave here for Auckland by the first steamer. We wish them success where they go.