MODERN MAGIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1939, Page 4

MODERN MAGIC

NICOLA MYSTIFIES AUDIENCE. CLEVER MECHANICAL ILLUSIONS. Clever mechanical illusions and brilliant sleight of hand were features of the performance presented by Nicola in the Regent Theatre last night to a capacity house. Probably no internat-ionally-known conjurer and magician performing today enjoys a higher reputation than Nicola. Last night he skilfully performed a generous number of tricks of diverse character. Seldom did he leave the stage, though there were several supporting artists, but' the burden imposed upon him never appeared to be oppressive, and last evening the interest of the audience clearly never flagged. Indeed, those present tbok a keen delight in their bewilderment at many of the illusions. Although a comprehensive programme was presented, including many ingenious illusions, it is to be regretted that some of the turns which had been announced for presentation—the: Indian rope trick for instance —were omitted from last night’s programme.

It is probable in the sphere of ingenious mechanics that Nicola is pre-emi-nent among modern magicians. Other performers who have visited the Dominion have made young ladies vanish from the interior of heavily-padlocked trunks or survive the apparent thrusts of lethal' weapons. But Nicola works on the principle of providing new lamps for old, and he gives variations or developments that are sufficiently startling to thrill the spectators and to baffle solution by obvious processes. , A young' lady survived the ordeal of being placed in a cabinet backed by spikes. The back and front of the cabinet drew together, concertina fashion, and the spikes appeared to protrude from the front. Yet when the cabinet was restored the occupant, who was described on the programme as punc-ture-proof,. smiled happily. A subsequent task, was for an assistant to be tied in' a sack and put in a trunk, which was padlocked and wrapped in ropes. Nicola stood in front of the trunk, which was screened for a bare two seconds. When the screen was removed the girl had taken the place of Nicola. The mystery of his disappearance was solved -when the trunk was unwrapped and opened, Nicola being discovered in an' attitude of contemplation in the sack: Just how he got there was a point remaining unsolved with most of the spectators. Another feature of the programme was an act in which a'girl lying on a table was caused to rise, several feet into the air, and remain there for some time. When she - was lowered to the table again and the cloth draped over her was removed it was foupd that she had disappeared; Many other mysteries equally baffling are included throughout the programme. A very funny interlude was given by Ah de Clercq, in an American “hillbilly” characterisation. Whatever was the method employed by Lucille Roberts, “the girl with the X-ray eyes,” in describing while blindfolded various articles held by members of the audience, it was sufficiently puzzling in itself, while the performer also scored 'with an effective seasoning of comedy.