Theatre Royal.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7942, 4 October 1905, Page 2

Theatre Royal.

STEPHKNSON'S "MAGIC KETTLE COMPANY." The entertainment presented at the Theatre Royal on Tuc-stl a y evening by Mr George Stephenson's specially selected company evening exceeded expectations, and was highly appreciated by the audience. The programme was a popular and diversified one—a mixture of melody, amusement and mystery, eiijeyablc in every respect, clever and 'instinctive. Every item was of an attractive, nature, and the enu'i"Uffr,mcnt i«ay be recommended , as one of the best yet presented in New Plymouth. Considerable public interest attachid to tho appearance of Professnr Andrews in -his great' "Magic Kettle Act," first 'introduced.ny that gentleman at the Palace Theatre, London, and the exhibition is cert.iinly an amtzlng demonstration of the pos;i--biTilics of liquid air. It js >ai) jC - Ihiii'B uove! to witness clouds of "steam" eonstatitiy issuing from the ketlle, whether-placed on the floor or on a, 'block of ice; it is cquafly mysli'yn.g, to watch the block sf ice apparently burn with an inc a ndesccnt. (lame directly the kettle is applied ice-cream was produced in a few seconds by the addition of a few drops from the kettle ("boiling on the ice") to the ordinary ingredients, and when handed round to the audience the delicacy was declared bv one enthusiastic lady to he "grand." Under-the same magical influence 8 tube fuli o[ kerosene Lecame a solid candle • spring (lowers became so affected that they would break in the hand like so much brittle glass ; a n ordina»y india rubber ball, enveloped in the icy embrace of the kettle became so brittle that cu pressure it broke up into countless pieces, and a cigar was ignited in the steam emanating from the wonderful liquid, which is 311 dc* grces below zero in temperature. Other bewildering instances of the power of the Magic Kettle were affordtd by Professor Andrews, who will deliver a brief disquisition on the great scientific'discovery. The feats, which must he seen le |>e %j.liscd, delighted ail present. The Tirlnity Boys -a highly trained quartette - quite took the house hy storm, their numbers, "Gypsies' Laughing Song," Lauboard Watch," "Excelsior " "Whisper and 1 Shall Hear," and "Nursery Rhymes," all evoking generous and hearty applause. Both the solo parts and concerted numbers were beautifully rendered, each of the youthful vocalists being richlv endowed and admiraliy trained. A feature of the enteitainiwiit was the mysterious ;nrn of "Alma, the Court Magician," one of the leading sleight of hand artists now before the public. He introduced a number of deceptions and illusions quite new to the audience, who were not slow in Showing their hearty appreciation of bis exceptional abilities. His illusion, entailed "Uda, the Goddess of the Air," Was most remarkable, the subjici apparency rising and lying suspended in mid-air at -his will. Miss Elsie Peerless, the possessor of a rich soprano voice, gave an eHeclivtj rendering of Bird" (encored). She was associated with two of the Trinity Choir boys in the trio, "0, Memory," which was exquisitely interpreted, the vocalists having to respond to an emphatic encore. Miss Peerless and Master Joyce also sang "Maying," with equal success. The musical sketch artists, known as the Pierrots, made a decided "hit" in a tractive and refined throughout, and kept the house in a simmer of flierrimebt. The.skit pourtraying a clergyman's announcements to l.is congregation, and,the items "Two £ockncys Hi Paris," "If Isn't a "ad-Idea," and 'lhc Serial Story", were capital. In this whimsical sketch "business" the Pierrots take a high place. Miss Klsa Dwyer, i, n Australian songstress, added a pretty vocal number, "There Lutle Girl, Don't Crv." Pianoforte solos were given bv Mr N.|J. Oelide, under wjiosc able direction the Choir boys appear, and Mr K. H. Stokes. Altogether the entertainment is atHiailtiv? and refined throughout a ml one hat must commend itself-to the' public.

The!final performance will be given bi'KT' wi,e ," ,llc COWIU,| y *«• Th Cl,i"i a ' a n SC ~f P r »srannac. .Hit U)(,|| l, () y s w ,l| s| „ H ~ „ ? h n^; ''Venetian Wt S„„"' in" The Mermaids." Professor An ma" Jin • a 9 c Kl ' Ulc '" »ml-!'AI- "» «iH iHtrodnre now "illusions