AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 82, 3 April 1912, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

FASOLA NOVELTY COMPANY. __ It’s a long time since we have seen a really good illusionist, conjurer, and .(“black art” expert, Some years ago ‘Maskelyne and Devant’s brought round a much-lauded performance, but Fasola does all their illusions, and a .‘host more, with mystifying effect. He produces a smiling damsel from space at will, and gets rid of her with the same amizing simplicity. Take an example: A massive cannon is wheeled , on to the stage, and the little girl is with much labour shovelled down the mouth. Then the cannon is fired, much to the alarm of the audience. Fasola then orders the assistants to bring up a big box which has been standing in the middle of the hall. In a few mm- 1 utes' it is opened, only to reveal another box, then another, and from the middle of this appears the girl who had gone down the cannon’s moutli. How was it done ? Then there was the piano trick. The instrument, a fairly bulky one, with the girl, piano stool, and all, are lifted in the air and dis : appear completely from view, at the sound'of the magician’s pistol. Ihe cabinet iliystory still retains its charm. Thousands have professed to explain it, but somehow the explanations fail to remove the veil that shrouds the dexterous movements of the Indian fakir. Fasola occupies the stage for nearly an hour, and there is not a moment ‘in which he fails to entrance his audience with his tricks and illusions. He is a master magician a prince of mystery. 1 Associated with Fasola are a number of vaudeville artists of exceptional merit. Miss Cecile Stephano has always received a good hearing from her audiences throughout the Dominion, and her reception last night was no exception. She has a remarkable voice —a deep cofitralto, which she used ' with telling'effect in both her numbers. Her two gongs wefe warmly applauded v The Windsor Choristers, collectively and separately, sang notably Master 'James lies, styled a _boy soprano'. Billy Brennan is a comedian of the first water, and not muddy water at that. His parody on ‘lip 1 Addy” was quite a feature of the even- , ing. Miss Dollie Day is a clever little dancer and makes the most of her turn. Mr. Charles Povey was encored for his character, song,, “The Sundowner.” Nor must;Mr. Rud Peterson, tte genial manager, be forgotten. He showed himself.an accomplished artist, and his monologue and songs weredis- - tinctly good. The accompaniments were in the capable hands ot Mr. Will Butler, who played with credit to himself and satisfaction to the audipnee. Summed up, the Fasola Xovelty Company is a good show, and the audience, though a large one, was not as big a one as it deserved. Stratford will give them a heartier welcome next time should they visit us again. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. There was a good attendance last night at His Majesty’s Theatre, when the current programme was repeated.^ The excellence of this programme is the subject of general comment, the opinion being expressed that the Reign of Flowers” is one of the finest nature study films yet presented. The dainty colouring of the exhibits, and the masterly manner in which their superb beauty was exhibited raise the film far aboVe the level of the average example of the cinematographic art. Another film of merit, was that giving peeps into the heart of a big zoo. Ihe porcupines, especially, were the subject of much interest, anu the antics of Barbara and Sam, “the most famous Polar bears in this world, weie well worth seeing. The cowboy dramas are full ot exciting incident, and well acted, the star drama, “The Cowboy’s Bride” having a fine story, leavened with plenty of humour, “Five Bold Bad Mon” is excellent as a comic. To-fiiorrow evening, the star picture ' presents the story of Lady Godiva, the famous ride, and the act of Peeping Tom. It should be interesting to see how the cinematograph will render this story, now so well known throughout the world. /