THEATRE ROYAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5099, 9 August 1895, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

PROFESSOR DAVIS' FANTASTIQUES. A most novel and interesting entertainment was given by Professor and Madimio Stella Davis, at the Theatre Royal, last evening, The mysterious was harmoniously blended with the amusing, and (he two elements combincd, succeeded in securing the closest attention of the audience present. The proceedings opened with a display of card Iricksaiidothcrfcatsof legcrdcmaip, pcrformod with neatness, precision, and accuracy. This was followed by a rcntriloqiiial exhibition and the Professor, by means of" Five Funny Folk," kept Hie audience in a constant state of merriment.

The second part of the programme comprised clairvoyant tests by Madamo Stella Davis, and an exposure of Mrs Mcllon's famous" spooks" by the Professor, Madame Dayis, who was blindfolded and seated near the back of the stage, gave with unerring correctness different figures' written oh the blackboard by an assistant selected from tho audience. Then a number of questions, jyrjllcnpn pieces of papor, which neither Professor nor Madw Ifyyis ]iad an opportunity to see, and circulated, wero answered carefully and correctly, to the mystification of the audience, and tho " spirit exposure," brought the entertainment to a close. For the proper carrying out of this test, (he Professor selected a committee of six well-known residents who, in accordance w}th instructions, bound the pcrforraor's hands, with stout rope, behind bis back, arid placed him in a sack tied round his neck, all the'knots being scaled. Ho was 'th'eii placed in a cabinet which, after "a carcfijl scrutiny' by )hc committeei was pronounced to be' empty, th'p curtains wero drawn aud the lights turned down, Immediately (ho spirit manifestations commenced. The first to appear was "Littlo Cissie," who walked about the stage asking the committeemen for chocolates, She retired to her spirit slumbers, and "Geordie" , took her place, greeting the gentlemen on tho platform with a shake of the hand. Josephine appeared next, after which Mr Davis, freo from all tho trappings with which'lie had lieen"so securely bound, stepped out of the cabinet, to the groat w'dnapr'if bjs audfencc." He then rehired fop a few s'ecphpls, and aj, a given, signal tjic pu'rtains were thrown asjao, I and tlip professor was found seated on thp p|jaif, bourn) IP Pretty the same manner, ps when ho first pntpre'd,' An examination showed that thp seals wero unbroken. The trick —for the Professor candidly admltß it is trickery-was remarkably clover, and tho audience i were completely astounded, Professor Davis will appear again this evening with several uew surprises,