WIRTH'S CIRCUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 160, 9 July 1890, Page 4

WIRTH'S CIRCUS.

ANOTHER NEW PROGRAMME,

It is wonderful how popular circus per. formances are with people of all claeeea. Some Bay they go to pleaee the children, others to please their wives, while others again are not ashamed to admit the soft ■ impeachment that their love of the wondera of the circus ring is as strong ,aa ib was when they were little fellows in knickerbockers. Those were the happy days when one believed that the highest aim on earth was to become a circus rider in tights and spangles, and when one listened with reverent admiration to the quips and cranks that fairly bubbled from the lips of the wonderful clown. The times have changed, bub the circus has not. It still possesses the same attributes of wonderland to the juvenile mind, and even the mosb staid of us are only too glad occasionally, to renew these pleasant associations of our younger days.' . And we have an excellent opportunity of doing so afforded us by the Messrs Wirfch' Theirs is a Circus far above the average. The proprietary are all born and bred to the business, and it engages all their attention. Their takings are large, but their expenditure is almost equally so, and the result is shown, in the splendid stud of horses they have got together and the admirably trained troupe of performers they maintain. There is a wonderful amount of "go" too about their perform inance, and one can always rely on some* thing new to astonish and amuse. • \ An excellent programme was presented again last night, the various items being keenly appreciated by those present. The opening scene was the usual grand cavalcade entree by four ladies and an equal number of gentlemen mounted on eight handsome stallions. Grace* ful evolutions wore gone through, winding up with a salute to the audience, after which Masters Alfred, Carl and Her. Bert Wirth, the Liliputian contortionists, exhibited wonderful powers in distorting their bodies, and performed numerous clever, acrobatic feats. The cart-wheel bueinesa was done in an amusing manner that rendered it difficult to distinguish to which head the respective bodies belonged. The trick ponies "John BulJ" and "General," reflected credit on the "■'• excellent training of Mr P. Wirth, by the various tricks they did to order, giving jigs, polkas, or waltzes as required. Signor Morina manifested great dexterity as a trapezist in his grand double horizontal bar act, for which he received ovations of applause. Little Miss Edith Wirth performed in , excellent style her skipping wreath act on horseback.and Miss MarizlesWirth repeated her unrivalled bare-backed riding, which , must be seen to be fully appreciated. Signor Lonandi, in company with Miss Madeline Wirth, went through a series of; clever acts on a couple of bare-backed horses. The culminating point was when the lady stood upright on the shoulders of Signor Lonandi, while the horses were going round the arena at a rattling ■ pace. Master H. Wirth ex-, cited an amount of interest in his * act with the four pretty English ponies, and Masters C. and A. Wirth performed wonderful feats is their double jockey act. The New Zealand stallion Bannockbura was introduced by Mr Gus St. Leon, and attracted an amount of attention by the various tricks it went through. Mr George Wirth was rewarded with floral tributes. - for his picturesque five - horse act, and Signor Lonandi ejoked rounds: of applause in the jockey acti; during which he managed tlta difficult feat of dashing across the arena and jump* ■_ ing to the bare back of a horse, and land-; Ittg in a standing position. Master Carl Wirth displayed considerable agility 6Q fcha swinging bamboo, but the greatest interest was manifested in the seesaw act of the clever trick baby ponies, Dynamite and Calamity, as exhibited by Signor Romania. I The final scene in the first act was an acrobatic performance by the Wirth family and other members of the Company. The ■ pyramids were especially interesting. The -f \ marvellous manner in which the artistes piled, themselves upon one another was truly astonishing. Throughout the performance the Dummy and other clowns created infinite amusement by their funny antics and witticisms. After an interval" of ten minutes the spectacular piece " Liverpool Steeplechase " ' was repeated, during which were introduced twelve blood jumping horses, the old English Maypole Dance; and two Irish coinedianeV It is not only an amusing performance, but also a remarkably clever exhibition of steeplechase riding. Another interesting programme will be presented this evening. ■ ■ ' ■ :■. ,• !^f§