AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 82, 3 May 1909, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

MASKELY.Mi AND DEVANT'S MYSTERIES, Early ill the year ill', Henry Hayward, an end'cpi'iieur who, during a most successful associate-management of West's Pictures, had accurately guaged the capabilities of Australia as a Held for really first-class dramatic enterprises, determined to bring the inon. representative entertainment London boasted to these shores. He accordingly entered into negotiation with Mr. Maskelyne, of Maskelyne and Cook, who for 4(1. years have held the Egyptian and St. George's Halls' Piccadilly, and have there established a performance of mystery, music and magic which lias resulted in a record run of 41),(100 performances, and a record of 11,(10(1.0(10 of people. Maskelyne anil Cook's names have long been world-known; ever since, indeed, the famous contests and lawsuit,s which arose from the determined ell'ort John Xevill Maskelvne made to expose false "mediums" by imitating the results obtained at "seances." and openly declaring that his means were mere trickery. One rear-on. perhaps, which will account for the lasting popularity of the Egyptian llall. is that all the illusions are constantly bein£ . reinforced by fresh mysteries and extraordinary inventions, and that the programme is varied by the appearance of artists, each of whom js the finest available in his particular speciality. It will be easily imagined that the importation of the large company necessary to the working of the mystery plays and of the great amount of valuable and secret inventions which form part of the great trick, "Will, the Witch and the Watchman," is a venture of the highest importance. Tlie touv ararnged embraces only the larger towns of the Commonwealth and New Zealand. The absolute novelty oi the entertainment, combined with the fact that the firm, which since Mr. Cook's death has been known as Maskelyne and Devant's, is known in all corners of the British Empire, have contributed to an encouragingly successful reception of the English combination. The great illusions alternate Svith appearances of Mr. Barclay ({amnion, one of the chief musical iiio'nologuists of the day, (lintaro, who was well termed a "Japanese Cinquevalli," and Mr. Owen Clark, a brilliant young London conjurer.