Salle Diabolique
Event Information
Venue(s):
Salle Diabolique
Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
20 October 2011
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
20 Feb 1865, 8:00 PM21 Feb 1865, 8:00 PM
22 Feb 1865, 2:00 PM
22 Feb 1865, 8:00 PM
23 Feb 1865, 8:00 PM
24 Feb 1865, 8:00 PM
25 Feb 1865, 2:00 PM
25 Feb 1865, 8:00 PM
Program Details
Performers and/or Works Performed
Citations
1)
“Or the secret of becoming instantaneously INVISIBLE AT WILL. The invisible person occupying the same space and with that same and no other surroundings as when visible.”
3)
“Owing to a most unfortunate accident last evening, the production of the new sensation entitled ‘Gyges’ is postponed to Wednesday next.”
5)
“And what’s the Gyges? He was a young man of a penetrating turn of mind, who, seeing a crevice, or oil well, or something of that sort leading into the bowels of the land, went down and found himself in hell. By some means he got in with some of the officials in that warm region of country, and by the aid of a bounty broker, may be, he became possessed of a ring which, by rubbing, rendered the wearer invisible, etc. He returned to earth, and thereupon followed a series of acts with which we have nothing to do. Well, on this devilish little sketch a musical drama has been founded.”
7)
“‘Gyges’ is a go. . . . There have been large audiences . . . Heller possesses neither the power of mystifying his audiences, while he amuses them with good jokes and excellent puns. The programme of tricks and illusions is changed from time to time, and novelty after novelty follows in succession. Last Monday, after delighting the eye with a number of card tricks, and filling the air with the rattling sounds of the Goblin Drum, he gave us an idea of the way in which boarding-school misses study music, and we must say that it was the richest thing of this kind we have heard in a month. Heller informed us that the young lady takes half an hour to accomplish what he could do in three minutes. Not only did he make this assertion but showed us the way it was done. Then followed the funny Wooden Minstrels with their comic songs and ‘soul-thrilling music.’ . . . The illusion of the Gyges is introduced in a pathetic drama (?) called ‘Tartini’s Dream,’ in which Tartini dreams a dream, and in his dream he hears strains of Heavenly music; he afterwards endeavors to recall the air, but does not succeed; in his despair he swears that he will sell his soul to the devil if that disreputable character will permit him to hear that simple air again. Immediately the devil appears, and produces the articles of agreement for Tartini to sign, which he at once does, and the musicianer appears before him. Tartini, in his terror, levels his gun at him, but, at the instant he is about to fire, the musicianer disappears. This is the Gyges. Finally, Tartini has learned to play the air so skillfully that Old Nick is delighted, and, tearing up the agreement, releases him from his bargain. With this plot, Heller has managed to do a great deal. About the Gyges, we may say that it will do for a sensation for a little while, and then disappear from our gaze like its illuminated and illustrious predecessor, ‘The Ghost.’ The Gyges is not as bold as the Ghost; ‘it’ does not come prominently on the stage before you, but is seen in a sort of out of the way passage or doorway; we are somewhat astonished at the sudden and mysterious disappearance of the man, but there is something wanting; we should prefer to see it right out on the stage. The Ghost illusion is also introduced, for when the musician reappears and proceeds to play upon the violin, his body is so transparent that the devil is distinctly seen through him. This is no doubt our old friend, the ‘Ghost,’ in a new and more transparent form. The whole thing is a combination of the Gyres and the Ghost, with strong lights, glasses, and other necessary contraptions to pull the wool over your eyes, so that you can’t see it. It is worth seeing, this Gyges thing; and Heller is worth hearing, whether he talks at you, or plays at you.”