When Camilo Aldao announced the production of a play starring Cardini, the famed magician, there was considerable apprehension in "the circles" as to just what sort of drama could be erected about his suave but untested histrionics. The apprehension was justified. "The Ascending Dragon" is good entertainment when Cardini is performing his wondrous slight of hand with cards and cigarettes. As a mystery drama it doesn't excite much praise. Slow moving, not particularly clever in construction, weighted with a burden of dull lines it looks like the season's first "also ran".

A prologue opens the activities in good fashion by devoting itself exclusively to Cardini's skillful and amusing conjury. During this demonstration Cardini, in answering questions from the audience informs a young lady that her impending-marriage will not take place. The play opens and we learn to our utter amazement that he was right and that the lady's spouse has been murdered. Things then get very complicated and in a twinkling everybody is under suspicion. Cardini is called in to clear up the mess and after confusing the issue impossibly for two acts he brings the story to a not totally unexpected conclusion.

Monday's opening performance was none too smooth but with a bit more practise Cardini should get his lines in hand and then the play can settle down to meet its fate. If you can satisfy yourself with Cardini's tricks you will have a good bit of diversion.