AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 116, 17 May 1902, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

THE CINQUEVALLI SEASON,

JUGGLING EXTRAORDINARY.

Last night was one which most, people would prefer to spend indoors, the weather being bitterly cold, with heavy driving rain. However, Paul Cinquevalh proved too strong an attraction, and a very large audience assembled at the Opera House to witness the first performance of Mr Harry Rickards' No. 1 Vaudeville Company, of which the great juggler is the -star." By eight o'clock the house was crowded in every part. Paul Cinquevalli, "l'inconiparable" and 'the prince of jugglers," as he is styled in the play-bills, showed the audience last evening that he is all that has been said of him, anu a good deal more. ». nen one goes to see "the prince of jugglers one naturally expects something out of ths ordinary and the audience last evening were certainly shown something very much out of the ordinary indeed. To say that a juggler is marvellous is to bestow one of the strongest laudatory epithets In the language, yet one feels that m, Cinquev&'H's case it is hardly expressive enough. ...thin the limits of newspaper criticism it is impossible to detail all the extraordinary feats with, which this extraordinary man entertained the audience; he must be seen to be fully appreciated. Coming on in the second part of the programme, after balancing a vase on three pieces of stick on his foreheau, and going through wonderful balancing feats with a top-hat and a walking-sticK, Cinquovalli proceeded to show prowess of a kind that fairly made the audience gasp. He juggled with three billiard cues as if they were tooth-picks, and flung billiard balls about as if he exerted some magnetic force on these pieces of ivory. Tossing four balls at a time in one hand seemed to be child's play to him, whale balls glided along his arms, down his back, and round his neck in the most extraordinary manner, each finding a resting .place* in the billiard pockets which were attached to his coat. And his balancing feats with cues and balls were absolutely astounding, the culminating feat boinjr one in which lie balanced a wineglass on his chin, and on top of the glass a billiard ball, then a cue, and then two more balls. But, astounding as these feats were, most of them were but preludes to acts of greater daring. One may suppose that a 481b cannon ball is ZLoout the last thing with which a man would care to juggle, yet Cinquevalli nings it about with nearly the same ease with which he manipulates a, billiard ball It is no exaggeration to say that the audien >c. c, a uirly sasped as they saw this ball which had previously been let fall on the stage with a heavy thud, running over h n e, aP" s and neck of the manipulator and being tossed about with an ease which was simp]y marvel]oU T n e clWx ?,« }& c£ n,non ba" act came when the a as .&& any; Kkst tune juggling with three ball, S S3 m ShlT » »*™*ou» KtaSS rtat, in which a chair, a broom, and a revolving tub were used. To say thai the audience were astounded would be to put it m ildly, and the applaud Which was showered on the performer was almost terrinc-the cheering being loud and' long. No performer ever got a finer ovation in the Opera House. It is safe to say no performer deserved it more. Though of course Cinquevalli is the star" of the Company, there are other attractions of a high order of merit To Madame Lydia Yeamans-Titus must be accorded very great praise indeed for her exceedingly clever mimicry. Possessing an unusually good sopranovoce, and a perfect talentformimicry.Madame YeamansTitus provided' an entertainment of the most novel and- amusing kind. Her imitations of a celebrated singer, of an Italian opera singer, and of a housemaid singing "Dolly Gray," were most admirable, and provoked the heartiest of laughter; but it was her imitation of a little child singing a song- for the first time that simply carried the audience away. This item was simply inimitable, and it is no exaggeration to say that the audience laughed as much a# any audience ever laughed. The laughter was so boisterous that at times it quite drowned the lady's voice. Thunders of applause followed this item, and the lady was several times recalled. Mr Frederick J. Titus accompanied Madame Yeamans-Titus on a Brinsmead pia.no, kindly lent by Messrs Hoffman and Sons.

Next in order of merit was an excellent ventriloquial act by Mr Chas. Colby, who manipulated two dolls in a most amusing wa,y. The conversation of Mr Colby and his two dolls. Tommy and Sambo, was American, one of Tommy's sayings, delivered in the American twang, being, "I've just had a square meal, and the corners are hurting me." Mr Colby was assisted by Miss Alice Way, whose performance as a dancing doll was distinctly good. Professor Charles Wrigley exhibited an unusual amount of skill and feeling in his playing on the saxophone, clarionet, and the bass cornet and fully deserved the hearty aspplause he received. Thf> remainder of the programme was supplied by Miss Nlta Leete (contralto), the Diamond Duo (dancers, vocalists, and banjoists), Miss Tda May and Mr Chas. Walker (cake w-alkers and. specialty artists), and Mr James Opie (baritone), All these artists were well received.

The Company appear every night, and. it is safe to predict that crowded houses will be the order of the season.