FITZGERALD BROS.' CIRCUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9992, 2 December 1895, Page 5

FITZGERALD BROS.' CIRCUS.

♦■■ ■ A BRILLIANT OPENING PERFORMANCE. Great as were the expectations aroused in the minds of a considerablo section of the Auckland public in connection with the advent of Messrs. Fitzgerald Bros, and their new London Circus Company, these anticipations were fully realised by the opening performance on Saturday night. The management, too, had evidently high hopes of extensive public patronage, judging by the huge tonb erected, and the enormous seating accommodation provided, but these hopes must have been more than satisfied by the vast audience which thronged the marquee in every part, the officials having the greatest difficulty in providing seats for all. Though the arrangements wero on the whole more than satisfactory thero was some dissatisfaction concorning the position of the chairs, those not in the front row having somo difficulty in seeing, but perhaps tho " lay of the land" was more responsible for this than anything else. However, this matter is worthy of the attention of the management. Turning to the performance itself, it may be said at the outset that ib was equal to anything of the kind ever witneescd in Auckland, and every item on the programme wa9 accorded an enthusiastic reception. The proceedings wero commenced with a decidedly fine leaping exhibition by the full strength of the male portion of the company. The acrobats turned somersaults over considerably more than a dozen horses, the clean, neat, and confident stylo of Mr. Frank Jones, who has a reputation almost unrivalled in this branch of acrobatics, being much admired by the audience. Another item that cannot be passed over was the interesting performance of the pony Commodore, which, under the direction of Mr. Dan. Fitzgerald, displayed intelligence that was almost human. This itom was heartily applauded ; but even more enthusiastic were the demonstrations of approval called forth from all parts of the house by the contortions of the brothers Eclair, which can be regarded as nothing less than marvellous. How a man with a bone in his body could perform tho feats with which the " Crocodile and Demon" astounded the audience is a problem by no means easy to solve. Of course a leading feature of every circus consists in the exhibition of riding, and the jockey acts, and in this department Fitzgorald Brothers are more than up to the times. It must be remembered too, that the public lias seen so many of these performances that a rider must be brilliant indeed to arouse anything like general enthusiasm. Such being the case, it is a compliment of the highest order to be able without exaggeration to say that tho pony hurricane hurdle acts of tho two juvenile riders elicited tho warmest applause, whilo the riding and driving of their seniors were universally pronounced to be as fine an exhibition as tho heart of the most enthusiastic admirer of horsemanship could desire. The horses, too, knew their business almost as well as the men on their backs, a tact which did much to ensuro the neatness of these items. The jockey act of Mr. Walter Lonergan, an Auckland I native, was good ; but tho rider did nob seem quite "at home." Before leaving the equestrian part of tho entertainment mention must be made of the six magnificent white Arabs trained and introduced by Mr. Dan Fitzgerald. The intelligent animals ' showed themselves equal to doing almost anything short of actual speech. They cortainly appeared to bo able to comprehend what was said to them, for they oboyed orders like a regiment on duty, marching in single file, in twos, or four deep, in prompt obedience to the word of command. They also delighted the audience with other feats equally clever, and bowed themselves out amid the approving shouts of the onlookers. However, thero was a disappointment in store, for Mr, I Fitzgerald had reluctantly to announce that 1 Mahomet, the famous "talking horse," as the playbills announco him, had been detained, but will arrive by the Tasmania, today. It is impossible within the limits of this report to attempt to treat each of the numerous items on this varied programme ; separately, though all aro deserving of praiee, still space must bo found tor the daring and clever aerial trapeze performance of Mdlle. Adelina Antonio. Her feats on the single ropo have seldom boen (equalled, and perhaps never surpassed; but moro daring and thrilling than all was her double backward somersault from the ! highest part of the building. This was indeed a taking item, tho lady being safely caught in a neb fixed up for the purpose. Another lady performer, Mdlle. Marguirette, earned goldon opinions for her artistic and i clever riding act on two horses in company with Mr. King; while the swirl dance of La Belle Rose on a rolling globo was as difficult as it was picturesque, and the lady was deservedly applauded. Tho clowns of course must not be passed over in silence— for what circus could be complete without ft down, and tho part) agoodfun-makerplays in insuring tho success of those entertainments can hardly be over-estimated; but it is sufficient to eay thattheFitzgerald Brothers' clowns were all amusing and clever, and their comicalities elicited many a hearty laugh from old and young alike. Though the audience had already witnossed with unflagging interest the carrying through of 16 items of the programmo the appoaranco of Professor Peart, the celebrated diver, was the signal for renewed attention. First he was thrown into a tank, bound and tied in a sack, only to emerge from tho wator free from his entanglements; but his second feat was even more striking. Ho mounted to the highest point of the tenb, and sent a thrill of excitement through the vast assembly by diving into a tank of wator six feeb deep. This splondid achievement brought) a most successful performance to a conclusion, A wild beasb show is to some people almost as great an object of attraction as the circus itself, and certainly the menagerie in connection with the Messrs. Fitzgerald's exhibition is well worthy of a, visit. Tho animals wero inspected on Saturday night by the audience prior to , passing on into the circus tent, and many were the expressions of admiration heard upon all sides. The magnificent lions and tigers, besides numerous rare animals of less imposing aspect, all came in for their sharo of attention, and finer specimens than soma of them could hardly be conceived. Tho performances will be continued this evening and during the remainder of the weak, as advertised in another column. The management desire to state that some alterations in the sitting accommodation are being made for the convenience of the public, and that the celebrated horse Mahomet will be one of the performers this evening for certain.