THE CIRCUS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9326, 29 January 1896, Page 6

THE CIRCUS.

* The opening performance in Christohurol IMb night of FitzQeraid Bros , , circus drei an enormous attoadanoe, the spacious tent /■.feeing tilled to overflowing, There is alwayi -• charm about a circus, because, perhaps, i jrecall ecenee of early yonth, bub the oleve company of performers which Messrs Fitz ©erald Bros, have brought with them t< Uew Zealand have even greater claims thai .jAhit to public approval. There are on th programme several items which are in theii %ay quite unique. These have been thi •tar attractions in London for some time JtaA the opportunity of our aeeing then Tiere is due to the pluck and enterprise o Messrs FitzGerald Bros. Dealing with the performance last night *ne need not be bound by the actual orde; .of progression, but perhaps the new artistj •are entitled to the pride of place. Fin Amongst these is Mdlle. Antonio, a pecu liarly graceful and daringly clever trapezi •rtiit. This lady makes her descent iron fbhe trapeze, which is near the top fit tbi lent, dowu a rope, and in this she evince* /Wonderful ir.nscuiar power. Thie, however Jwas only the preliminary to the ttapezi work, in which Mdlle. Antonio threw i triple somersault from the bar into the net following this by a double backward ftomer Malt into the vet. This feat must be seei to be appreciated, and is certainly thi cleverest and most daring yet done here (The performances of the Brothers Eclair i A marvellous exhibition of contortioi power. The performer exacting the part o 'the,crocodile did so with great skill. Thi balancing on one hand, aud the way ii which the body was bent perfectly double fairly astounded the audience. The demoi also was wonderfully clever in his contor tions, as was also his balancing on a wooder. peg on tbo table. Throughout the act wai not only clever but aiau very pretty, an< devoid of the repulsiveness which is usually the characteristic of contortion acts. Thi talking horse Mahomet, which was intro duoed by Mr Probasco is wonderfully in telligcnt, nddiuc and subtracting number with facility. The cleverest feat performe< by Mahomet vraa telling the numbers put ot ft slate by members of the audience, am h*Jd by Mr KitzGeraki at a distance fron the fine, and so that the number could v>o be teen. Mahomet has a keen sense o humour, and elicited roars of laughter b; his quaint answers to the questions Mr Probasco. The thve of Professor Peart is a dariuj feas, mint one which creates a consiriprabii •mount of excitement. Prior to this th< Professor performed the Moutu Cristo feat being placed in a suck and dropped into thi tank, chanjEn»£ his clothes wrVis; iv thi Water, the lime occupied being 17a«c. Tb: dive from the top of the tent is an iteo which cannot be described I is done cleanls', and n wonderfully effective •specially tho splash up of the body o water under the limpli'/ht. In the other part or the prosramme th members of the Company garo "some tumbling exhibitir>i:.«. In thin departinen all were good, but pra.i«e is nue t Meesre Frauk Jor«*s and Joe Simonstien The side somersaults uud fiip-ilaps of th lfttter were woiiii«jrfu!ly well done. MdJle Addie Sutton tiid * clever hurricane Sturdl act with considerable dash and go, and tw boyp, Georpie and Harry, were alto ver good indeed in their various )e&p,:..z am riding acts. Little Harry was spcciaU , good in the hurricane hurdle act 0:1 si: horses. Mr Leonard ;he talking clow; Wan capital, aud iv his animal act inn per formers were we'd made-up, «nd rh act ite»lf was exceedingly funny. Th pony Commodore wont throogh Li performance cleverly, and Master Horr;

•.. did a good act in the revolving globe. It a is a matter for regret that La Belle Rosiere, >. the clever lady performer on the globe, is L- unable to appear owing to an accident. Herr ■, Yon Der Mehden is still to the fore with his y clever cornet solos, an-i it is quite a treat to '. hear the selections played by the band, a s thing one cannot always say with regard to - circus orchestras. Throughout the per- ) formaoce went with a awing and go which n made it very enjoyable. The Company c appsar agaio this evening, and to-morrow 11 the first of the three matinee performances t will be given, f ■