AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 83, 4 May 1909, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

MASKELYNU AND DEVANT'S MYSTERIES. At New Plymouth on Saturday. Monday and Tuesday, May Bth, 1 (it'll and 11th, the eagerly-anticipated company, th c original Maskelync and Cook, or liOiidon, will open this brief season. The well-known name of the great and long-established firm, the reports from Melbourne and Sydney of the brilliant visits extending over two months in each city, and last, but not least, the fine posters which call the news from our hoardings, have fostered a keen eagerness with regard to the thoroughly novel attraction which the bold enterprise of Mr Henry Hay ward is introducing to New Zealand audiences. Mention of the posters, by the way, recalls the fact that tin! most artistic of them are from the brush of Mr. David Dcvant (since Cook's deatli the junior partner of thc firm), whose inventions figure largely with those o'i Mr. Maskelync upon the opening programme. The company present two absolutely distinct attractions—stage illusion, and individual acts by three special artists in juggling, conjuring, and musical monologue'. The illusions are in the form of charmingly staged small plays', of which three are presented each evening. In some the , story is romantic, as for instance, that , of an artist who. whilst painting his ; dead wife's portrait, beholds her material from the canvas: in others, comedy is the keynote. A staff of twenty actors : and actresses manage these illusions. Gintaro's juggling, "Mr. Owen Clarke's clever conjuring, and a most important ' appearance of lh,. Loudon society enter- ' tamer. Mr. Ila relay Gammon, in'musical < monologue, contribute to the overflow- i ing programme. The orchestra is direct- | ed by Mr. Ernest Arnold.