WIRTH'S CIRCUS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2671, 18 January 1916, Page 7

WIRTH'S CIRCUS

AN ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMME Wirth's Circus h-as became almost an institution in New Zealand. The popular vote has given it this distinction as a reward for tho services it 'huts rcudorcd in tho way of the public entertainment. In the past it has well earned tho hold it has taken of the affections of tho people, and the talented company of artists \vho accompany the circus on its present tour again ensure for it the warmest of welcomes. The season which the Wirth ! Brothers opened on the To Aro Teclama- | lion last night promises to be not tho , least successful of those they have experienced in Wellington. There was a ; yory large audience, all the available seating accommodation being required to accommodate those who 6ought admission. The circus performance has been brought up to date by the inclusion in the programme of many novelties, although it retains enough of the old-time flavour to revive pleasant memories in the more sophisticated members of tho audience, and to create a feeling of joyous rapture in the breasts of the young people. Attached to tho circus is a menagerie, comprising elephants, lions, tigers, leopards, bears, monkeys, and seals. Perhaps the most popular item in last night's performance was the group of six seals trained in a variety of tricks by Captain I 1 rank Hilling. Their performance is certainly an astonishing one. They piny musical instruments, climb ladders, walk ropes, and toss india-rubber balls from one to the. othor with the greatest ease, accuracy, and precision. Tfiere is never a t mistake, intelligence, combined with a machine-like perfection of execution, stamps their performance as something quite unique. Ouo seal walks along a rope on its fius with a table bimb balanced on . the end of its nose. They are all ot them, however, adepts in the bala.n<|iUg art> and perform witib ease v[hat skill and long practice only would enable the human male performer to imitate, ihe group even includes a comedian, whose antics t never fail to excite the neartiesl laughter. 1 A troupe of six lions which were born at Cambridge, in Now Zealand, in March, lUI4, give a performance within a caged arena voxy much resembling that we are used to associate with highly-trained dogs. J-hey jump over obstacles and perform haUncmg tricks on pedestals, anil generally provide a novel and impressive entertainment.

iliss May Wirth displays remarkable agility in a. clever .equestrian act, a somersault on horsebacic being the sensational feature of her performance. She is also iitsociated with other members of the Wirth family in an aot entitled "The Circus Modern," iu which horses, clowns, and fair equestriennes combined •in a clever tiud diverting uiodiey ui circus novelties. Ho Ernestonians and Novikoll's, a escribed us the "human aeroplanes," present a really thrilling pertoi'iuanoe\ott the hying trapeze, including a double soinersauiij in miu-air by ono of the lady members of the quartet. The programme, which comprises over a score of items, gives plenty of opportunity for tile display of the lino collection of horses, always a special I'eu.turo of Wirth's Circus. M. Mussa Slaaniev, in an exciting exhibition of Cossack cavalry riding, proves himself an ablo hoiiseman. .He performs many daring tricks during the horse's swift career round the ring: Some novel feats of equestrianism axe also shown oy Jlr. Alex. Christie, who presents a picturesque act with the assistance of seven' hones. ; Equally striking is the entry into the arena of four female and four male riders all gaily dressed, after the fashion of hussars, in purple velvet. The l>eautiful evolutions of the horses to the accompaniment of band music is one of HiKst enjoyable contributions to tho lengthy programme. In the other equestrian acts great intelligence and the fruits of caieful training are shown under the direction of Mr. J. Cooke. "Louvain" gives a clever performance on the slack wire, and two young women, the Loretta twins, 6how much grace and strength in a performance on. horizontal bars. There ■ds the usual corps of clowns,. who provido a manlier of amusing' interludes. . The performance will be repeated this evening, and there will be a matinee tomorrow and on Saturday.