LURE OF THE CIRCUS

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12009, 11 December 1924, Page 9

LURE OF THE CIRCUS

PESgT SHOW. OPENING LAST- EVENING. ■ Despite the unpleasant' conditions, ’a large number ' of people found theirwgy into the; roomy tent which sheltered (Perry Bros.’ big circus and zooia street last evening. And undh’r the canvas in the second big erection, where powerful electric lights flared from- the 1 roof, i'all.the bonders of 1 the cirtus world were' unfolded. Out* side the Tain poured, but inside was the rush of feet, the nimble tongues of the clowns-with their jokes, old and new, bandied *wjth the ringmaster in timehonoured fashion, and the .evolutiqnsof the many highly-trained animals which go to make up-the show. There’are many jjerfonnera of all ages in Perry Bros.' circus, and many of them are of high merit. But they are" ably assikted by ponies whose evolutions are perfection, and whose understanding is evidently high- -The show opens with three acrobats, who- give some daring feats on the -flying trapeze, one swinging himself across the void to take a flying -grip on his partner, and sometimes turning in midlair in the procew. There succeed the Jshmoilia i Arabs, which include some whirlwind tumblers who would make a Catherine wheel look clow, and. La Bell Vera, who poises daintily oii the broad hack of a swiftlymoving home to execute a graceful butterfly dance. One pf the best turns of the is provided by the Elmos, perch and ladder balancers, and one of them performs . .an unparalleled feat when he holances a heavy beam on end upon his shoulder, while his partner does stunts aloft' at the. other extremity, lizzie Mackie rides as in the manner born; 'saddle is needed to aid her, while the j Kfantos provide a fall from the roof : .»rtiicli amuses the children. Five, Pffiyt appear in a spring-board turn, whirling somersaults in the air when being flung "off the board, and then slighting on the shoulders of the strong man of/the party. The JJelevanto Sisters, Donated dozens of feet , in the air,', provide some thrills,. one girl suspending her' sister by her teeeth while both- spin round in dioay fashion.’ The turn ,is exoepeionally clevar. -Alberto, the “Wizard of the Wire,” performs another . difficult stunt,. wncn, after some gopd wire-walking, he. turns a complete, somersault and alights - oh the silver .wire again,' '-Le Henri also has some surprises in store with his double backward somersaults to the ground from, the backs of galloping horses, and' La Bello Marie, able on the traneze. .shows out well as a. "ceiling walker,”;When die hangs suspended from the feet, by loops, of rope and calmly walks across the roof fly fashion. Juvenile contortionists are rare, and Daphne and Dorrie an* eadeptional. One of the tiny tote can double up while not moving from the edge of the chair on which she stands. . George Kay, also,' in a great six-home act, invites much appreciation. . Th© animals. too, have their share. Lone Stir, the pony high-jumper, perform* surprising feats with ease, and well cams his' title. Dempsey and Firpo, the boxing ponies, spar a round or two an approved fashion; Bessie, whose taste in sport turns to football, kicks the leather far with great. accuracy. and Jumbo, the young elephant, provides , the surprising spectacle of a mammoth on a see-saw—and enjoving it. Beyond these" many attrartione there is tho menagerie, with its lions, tigers, jaguars,' pumas, chimpanzees,

baboons, goats, and camel* all in tcondition. Shows will be green night), and the menagerie ie opmi during th. afternoons. There wfll he a matinee performance on Saturday.