Professor Pay and Mr E.D. Davids' Entertainment.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2623, 5 June 1877, Page 3

Professor Pay and Mr E.D. Davids' Entertainment.

Professor Fay and Mr E. D. Davies gave their second entertainment at the Academy of Music last night, but events took a turn that was not anticipated by the audience, and which slightly interfered with the programme. As usual at commencing, Mr Fay mentioned the names of three gentlemen who had been raentioned to act as a committee, but the gentlemen so nominated were either not present or showed a reluctance to go Upon the stage. There were therefore cries for several other gentlemen, and ultimately Mr John Watson and Mr J. D. Wickhara ascended the stage. After a . careful examination of the cabinet, Mr Watson (who is known to have, a reputation for tying knots) proceeded to• tie : Professor Fay, and ho went.-aboufc the business in a most systematic' manner, the operation occupying some considerable time. No objection was made by Professor Fay to the tying, as far as one could judge from the stalls, and ho' complaint was made by the gentleman who did the tying, until the time came for.the closing of the cabinet, when in answer to a question from Professor Fay, as to .^^ whether they were satisfied, Mr Watson -_ : - /f&id he thought "Mr Fay was pretty. /well.tied, but he had tried to get all the; slack, he could." Mr Fay.;: replied that he could "take in the. slack," but apparently Mr Watson was satisfied. The cabinet was then ■ closed, but, instead of the usual tnanifesta-:

tions, all was silent for some time, and no ringing of bells or strumming o f instruments was audible. Ten mirmtes elapsed, then a slight demonstration of impatience was" made; but no.i signs of release iv the cabinet. Then, as. tim<v wore on, and the band played the same "Old tune, a more decided display o.f;-im-patience was^ exhibited amongst the.au ditors in the pit, but not of a character that'could be called unruly. Presently, sounds were heard" - from the cabinet of bejlsmoying, and. tambourines shaking, but, still no. : signs *of- the opening of the cabinet. Then, acting on the': suggestion- of- an occupant of the stallsj-Mr Fay was appealed J.o to khow iff he wished to be released 1," Kut : a decided "no" was the answer. r All ;il\is becii-i 'pied time^ and the ten"minutes Was pro-.; longed to twenty; and. still no .''manifestations." Another pause, during which' the audience displayedl considerable consideration," and the centre door-,w^as" opened, then the others, when the Professor issued, pallid in feature and his-hands covered with blood, which caused quite a sensation amopgst the audience. Professor Fay .hbwed and retired from the stajje, and ft was to evident that he-had had a' . struggle to free himself that- the audience did not insist upon the ordinary manifestations from the cabinet. The ropes S-with which the-professor had been.tied were covered with blood where they Lad. -Closed- on his wrists, and vei'y con-

siderately the audience appeared satisfied : he had freed himself, and that was "sufficient from such tyin* as he had been subjected *o. '• There was a short interval, when Mr Davies appeared with his "funny folks," and he succeeded, in amusing his -auditory for nearJy an hour. Tom and Joe were as versatile as ever, and the several other characters introduced added to the amusement, and helped to show what Mr Davies could do in change;of voice and sustaining a number of characters at one time, without betraying his identity with the characters. The time occupied by Professor Fay in getting out of the intricacies in which he had been bound was variously stated, but it was probably half-an-hour—perhaps a little more. After Mr Davies came the " dark seance," and in spite of the severe ordeal to which he had been subjected in the cabinet, Mr Fay went through this in his accustomed manner, giving all the, surprising manifestations he is in the - habit of giving, and astonishing the audience by the multifarious and clever' manipulations of the several musical instruments lying near him, Messrs McCullough and 0. F. Quint being on the stage' as a committee during this part of the entertainment. The putting on and taking off of coats was done in a surprisingly quick manner, and the guitars were' made to oscillate and give forth their weird sounds as' before, even when Mr Fay was held by the committee, with tfie usual precaution to prevent access by a confederate. The pluck and determination displayed by Mr Fay in the cabinet,: in getting rid of his bonds, were much admired, and he was honored with a call,; besides which he received a well-merited; iheed of applause at the conclusion of the performance ;-. for it was stated that he is the first who has managed to extricate* himself- -from the tying of Mr John Watson.. \.