THEATRE ROYAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4289, 8 December 1892, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

The StmSmith Combination. This really clever combination opened a season of three nights at the Mastertor. Theatre Koyal last evenand ufter the success of the opening performance wo may expect to seo tlio Theatre filled to overflowing each night. At the commencement Professor Steen explained that there was nothing supernatural connected with the exhibition, which was merely illusion. He also spoke strongly against spiritualism and the frauds counected with it, and said that be could do all that the "spirits" professed to do, The Professor more than proved Ins words, for with the assistance of Mrs Steen ho completely astonished and nrystitied the large audience, Tho proceedings commenced by a committee consisting of tho following geutlomen, being formed:—Messrs H, E, Eton, E, M. D. Whatman, A. Mntrie, J. Cockbum-Hood, 0. Carj>il' and the Eev. Father McKenna. Wit! such gentlemen watching the pro ceedings most narrowly, tho audience felt quito assured that everything must be straightforward, and lliui anything like collusion was quite oul Jfiti the question. The only furniture on the stago was a few chairs, two blackboards, and t small table, Mrs Steen, blindfolded occupied a seat in the centro of tbt platform, and the Committee sat closi beside her. The lady began by reading lists of names and figures written on the boards. She also added up i long addition sum >vith her hack tc the board and still blindfolded, Figures and names were selected al random and merely pointed out or even thought about when the answers were given with astonishing rapidity, and if, in tho ondeavour to battlo Mrs Steen, the questioner pointed betweeu tho lines ho was promptly told that " there was no figure there." Then followed a marvel iu choss in which Mis Steen (still blindfolded) started from a square chosen by a member of the committee and rapidly ran over the whole of tlio moves necessary to take tho knitrht. bv bis own nroner

mode of progression, into every square on the board and Jfeack to tho starting point. Each Mnove was mentioned aloud, and the gamo waß closely followed by ohb or two players, who could tho more fully appreciate the wonderful feat by having some idea of the intricacies of ehess, Noxt tho day, month, and year on which the different committee men were born was told, and in one rather amusing case, the lady assured a gentleman that he had made a mistake in his birthday, having been born at ten minutes past twelve at night, Not knowing this, he has hitherto been keeping up his birthday a little too soon, The numbers of watches wero told, rings, charms, medals and unlikely articles of all sorts wore faithfully described—oven to a lady's glove with a holo in it. Then came an exposure of spirit writing between slates, and afterwards the audience was convulsed to Eeo an athletic and popular member of the committee—to bis own utter

and complete mystification—draw volumes of smoke from empty clay Jj)i|ieß, Other examples of" Steenism " land "Fakeology" were given, and after two most interesting hours llr Steen gave way to Mr Oscar Smith, the most accomplished ventriloquist of the present day. His performance is a remarkably clever one, and he is most decidedly tlio best ventriloquist 1 . ever heard in Masterton, His budget of funnyisroß and comicalities was received with a good deal of hearty applause, which showed tho high appreciation of his efforts, The ikons appear again this evening in an oniirely now programme, and we recommend everyone to go and seo them.