COOKE, WILSON, AND ZOYARA'S GREAT WORLD CIRCUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1126, 24 June 1867, Page 5

COOKE, WILSON, AND ZOYARA'S GREAT WORLD CIRCUS.

The at tract ious of this place of amusement seem in no respect diminished after a week's sojourn in the town, and, notwithstanding unusually inclement weather, they have drawn large audiences every evening. There was a grand mid-day performance on Saturday, at which the younger members of the families of the leading citizens and settlers of the district surrounding Auckland attended in large numbers. The performances were of a special kind, adapted to juvenile tastes, so that various feats were done with peg-tops, hoops, and other toys, while the fun of iVTr. Cooke's jokes were interpolated with humorous homilies upon conduct, which were served up for the particular instruction of the young idea." The performances in the eveuing were honored by a full house, and an enthusiastic audience. That this species of entertainment appeals with peculiar force to the I pleasure-seeking, is not wonderful, in this instance especially, when we consider the beauty of the horses, the thorough proficiency of the performers, and the great experience of j those who have the conduct of the entertainment. Those who have not witnessed the highest grace, tension and strength of muscular development, should see Messrs. Carlo, lioss, and Mr. T. Bird, the last named artist being an old favourite with the Auckland public, and who unites a marvellous flexibility and elasticity of limb with a vein of comic humour, which convulses the audience with laughter. As a contrast with Mr. Cooke, Mr. Bird is also what is known in the profession as an exceedingly good "ring clown," whose part it is more especially to mingle the most extravagant burlesque with grotesque posturing, and the facial variations which have come down to us since the illustrious Joe Grimaldi as one of the peculiarities of effective pantomimiery. There is an artist named Wallace, a member of this company, who is wonderfully clever as an equilibrist, and is also gifted with amazing strength. What he can do in balancing it is not possible to describe in detail. The principal features of the performance during the past week were la pcrche, by Carlo, and ail Olio of daring exercises by Bird on the slack rope. The ladies of the company are the most distinguished that have been known on " this circuit," and have more than once done the grand tour; one, we believe, is the original " Mazeppa," and it is possible that we may have this famous illustration of romance re-produced here. It must be allowed that their intrepidity as " stars " of the Circus is aided by a most attractive personelle in each cose, and they are not sparing of the expedients which a feminine instinct knows so well how to employ—the brightest of colours, the most minuto attention to arts of the figurante, are all resorted to with unqualified success. We have spoken so often of Mr. Cooke's accomplishments as a jester that nothing remains to be said beyond this that he manages to provoke the most genuine laughter out of materials which are not at all times the most susceptible of being impressed by wit or humour. He contrives, at his first bow, to put himself on the most intimate and familiar terms with his audience, and without losing his influence for a single moment, manages to do the most common place things in the most extraordinary way, from playing the arias of "I. Lombardi" on the picco, pipe, and penny whistle, to discoursing practical wisdom in irregular epigrams. There is a new programme set out for this week, amongst the attractions of which we notice the announcement of" Dick Turpin's Ride to York,'-' by Air. Cooke, on his beautiful blood mare Black Bess."