BEN ALLAH.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1245, 12 January 1883, Page 2

BEN ALLAH.

Ben Allah, the Monarch of Magicians, gave his first entertainment in Parnell and Boylan’s Hall last evening, when there was a very fair and appreciative audience. The card trick was very well done, and was greeted with the applause it deserved. After several of those present had picked a card from the pack and examined it, the Wizard, collects and places them in a kind of pistol.. He then comes off the stage and fires the pistol, when in an instant the identical cards appear affixed to a brass stand on the stage. The dove trick was exceedingly well executed, and how the different rings taken from some ladies in the hall subsequently became attached to the necks of the ferds one of those mysteries only known to the initiated. Two boys were then-Mked to nioutft’the jflaUorm, for the purpose of exhibiting the rope-tying trick. After the Professor had explained some of the mysstories in connection with the wonders v/orked by the Davenport Brothers and other, in their celebrated secances in connection with the Cabinet Trick, he proceeded to tie up the two boys, who evidently did not appear to appreciate the position. Whilst tied the lads were each asked to eat an apple, and the one who did this quickestlw&s to receive a pair of vases. After several attempts, and a severe struggle for the victory, the younger boy gained the prize. The red and blue handkerchief business was excellently done, and received the well merited applause it desereed. After the interval the Professor peformed various other tricks which were duly appreciated by the audience. The bird in the cage is, perhaps, one of the best of Ben Allah’s performances. How he manages to dispose of the cage with the bird in is one of those mysteries which is difficult to solve. The ventriloquial part of the performance is very well done, and the two dolls acted their part to perfection. At the close of the performance Ben Allah gave away some very handsome presents, which appeared to be duly appreciated by the lucky recipients. To-night the entertainment will be repeated, and we trust to see as good a house present as there was last evening. There cannot be a doubt that Ben Allah is a clever magician, and those who were sceptical as to the merits of the performer, ana who paid the Masonic Hall a visit last night, came away agreeably surprised. To-night will witness the last performance of Ben Allah, the celebrated Magician and Ventriloquist, at Parnell and Boylan’s Hall for the present season, when we feel assured that a good house will reward this really clever brother of the mystic art. It is not often that the Gisborne public have an opportunity of witnessing such a performance, so we trust that to-night they will muster in goodly numbers to witness what is really a clever performance. Ben Allah’s hat trick is really worth seeing, and will repay any one for the expense they are put to in procuring a ticket. As far as the Canary cage trick is concerned, atk the Editor of this paper, and he will solve the problem at once.