THE GREAT WOULD CIRCUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 682, 18 January 1866, Page 4

THE GREAT WOULD CIRCUS.

The circumstance that a troupe of equestrian artistes should come in tlieir own ship to our shores, bringing with them a stud of valuable horses, machinery, on a very large scale, and exhibiting a high degree of excellence, whether considered individually or collectively, is one, to say the least, out of the usual way, and deserves more than a passing notice. The spirit of enterprise, of which any such combination must be the result, is not merely commendable, it is extraordinary. As a matter of course, 110 ordinary amount of curiosity and expectation was in thepublic mind as to the performances of this talented company. Last evening however there was ample scope for the indulgence of any amount of curiosity, and it must be said that expectation was not only realised, but surpassed. Not merely the arts by which every kind of performance is sought to be professionallymagnified, but an amount of skill, science, and daring was exhibited, of which only those who were the witnesses of the performances can have the slightest idea. The performances opened with the usual equestrian introduction, in which knights and "ladies fair" put a number of horses i through a series of evolutions too numerous to mention, and too complicated to describe. This was followed by Master Ducrow, a lad of perhaps 12 years of age, upon a pair of spirited ponies, who, restive from long inaction, manifested a very " antic disposition," but were subjugated with wonderful pluck, daring, and skill. The youthful performer was applauded again and again. A performance on the horizontal bar by Don Leon is one of those wonders of strength and skill in which it is difficult to believe without the aid of ocular testimony. This was followed by Mr. John Barry, who is an agile and graceful rider, and jumped through the smallest hoop through which his body could pass while his horse was at full gallop, alighting again with unerring certainty on the animal's back. Singularly interesting was a feat by M. Carlo, as an equilibrist in a performance, entitled the Crystal Pyramid, wliich consists in the construction of certain pyramidal edifices with bottles and dishes, up which the acrobat walks, then places himself upon the neck of that which forms the apex, revolving round and round by aid of muscular action alone, and firing oil' two pistols while in this posture. There was a splendid piece of sensation-riding by Young Leroy, in which the equestrian seemed Muxeppa-like to be dragged along by liis horse at full speed, but it was all of course " in the play," and the performer recovered his position with ease, smiling at the spectators the while. But, perhaps, to those wiio feel an interest in matters relating to animal instinct and the degree of intelligence which may be exhibited by the noblest of all quadrupeds, the horse, the performance of the trained " black hawk" horse Othello was the most interesting. The sj'mmetry of this beautiful stallion, who seems almost the perfec- ■ tion of motion, his docility, his intelligence, his 1 evident pride in his own performances, are all ' elements in an effect produced upon the mind which is indescribable. It is a marvel of training. There was an exhibition of jumping which , must have, for those who admire grace, strength, ? and agility, an extraordinary attraction. To see several almost faultless human figures sailing in • the air, now over one horse, next over three, then over six, turning somersaults in transitu is not > merely exciting, but it gives a very good notion of what can be done by perseverance in athletic l exercises. The great merit of these performances . is that they are not dependent upon each other for . effect, but are each a singular illustration of the resources of human thews and sinews. They arc varied in a number of ways so as to give to : them a comic aspect. Thus Sir. Cooke, who is i the jester, has invented a sort of literature in • which the anti-climax is used in a manner to i cause shouts of laughter, and it must be allowed that he is superabundantly witty. He made . some capital local and personal hits which struck I home, and were cheered to the echo. There . was an astonishing performance entitled i JJ JEchelle Pcrilcusc, by Senor Olma, which produced thunders of applause. Then there is a comic acrobatic olio in which Messrs. lioss and Carlo manage to throw an amount of broad comedy into tumbling, that provokes fits of explosive merriment throughout. We have not mentioned Mdlle. itlla Zoyara. This lady has a magnificent physique and graceful personelle ; she is handsome and bold as -well as a most accomplished equestrienne. The largest marquee which we have yet seen in Auckland, and constructed to hold 1500 people, was as full as it could conveniently be. Perhaps there were 1400 persons present, certainly not many less. The arrangements were carried out with the greatest completeness, and , wc did not hear of a single complaint. The greatest urbanity and attention—particularly to ladies—was manifested by the employes of the company. Indeed, there was a large portion of the rank and inlluence of the city which attended this performance. We have not space to describe the antics of the two performing mules, but we may state that they caused shouts of laughter. There was a good band. The entertainment concluded at about eleven o'clock, the company giving rounds of applause for' the spirited proprietory of this " Monster" troupe.