SPANGLES AND SAWDUST

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 83, 6 January 1928, Page 12

SPANGLES AND SAWDUST

WIRTHS’ CIRCUS COMES TO WELLINGTON In the language of Shakespeare, “Age hath not withered, nor customed staled,” the infinite variety of the circus, with its spangles and sawdust, its “daring equestrian acts,” its clowns, and general motley of entertainment for young and old. The round of time has brought Wirth’s Circus back again to Wellington. Each visit brings fresh problems of location. For long it was what older Wellington has known as Hie "Reclaimed Land,” on the waterfront. But suitable circus “pitches” are becoming increasingly hard to find. This time the big tent is located at the top of Cuba Street, quite a good and convenient site.

The circus opened its doors for tho first performance last evening to a crowded house. There was the usual nnrnde of the- whole company when lions, bears, elephants, garishly-costumed riders mounted on champing, steeds, .-entered the ring with the old-time flourish r.nd processional pomn. Then came the lions. One rode an elephant, while others performed various stunts under the watchful eye of their trainer. Captain Smith. An unusual feature and quite an inspiring one. was the envy into th" lion ring of Medemoiselle Gulnaro Hoyer, who danced the "Dance of the Thousand Feathers" in the midst of the tawny beasts, and held the audience spellbound the while! Another attractive act was presented bv Pallenbarg’s performing bears. These animals rode bicycles, punched a football, and nerforoied on roller skates with every appearance of enjoyment, much to the diversion of the juveniles. Miss Dorris nnd Miss Gladys showed an exnert touch in their mastery of tho art of training horses—two very popular acts, these, while quite an impressive study in enuine stntnarv was given bv Arise Dorris’s "Golden Stafne’ horse, which went through a series of battle tableaux from the reveille to the final death scene. Tho performing elephants were put through various "stunts” bv their trainer, Miss Eileen May. This was a very popular turn with the young folk. Amongst the variety artists were the Higgling nnd balancing Znneltos; tho Rodnin Company, a strong man not which made nn impressive show; and Hilary Long, who gave nn awo-insniring disnlny of head balancing, concluding with a sensational nnside-down glide from the ceib’ng to the sawdust on a taut wire. Chester Diock. an Indian trick cyclist, gave a clever oxIHIGGon of single wheel stunts, ending with a Grilling loan through a fUn-nn" arch. Also in Hie picture wore the Clarkes, who displayed a rare degree of eqnos. frian skill in tho ring, adding a c nln Higgling on horsohaok act by Alfred Clarke- Chico and Grace in n oomodv acrobat io net; Miss Madeline, in a graceful horseback butterfly dance; a onnrtot of clowns, one a regular Tom Thumb and another an abnormally elongated figure of a man. who presented an irresistibly amusing contrast.

Altogether a good show, worthy of tl> A Wirth tradition. Th“ performance will bo repeated this evening.