WIRTH BROS.' CIRCUS.

NZ Truth, Issue 142, 7 March 1908, Page 6

WIRTH BROS.' CIRCUS.

The name of Wirth Is a sort of household word, like Coleman's mustard and Beecham's Pills, and m the Dominion it is difficult to think of a circus independent of Wirth's. The brothers have had many rivals, but have come down through the years with line greatest show on earth, or as near; to it as circumstances will piermit. Right here this paper desires to manifest its astonishment at the wild animals, which inspire fear m the stranger and wolf their meat like a defaulting solicitor putting his victim's coin out of sight. Intense respect for swarthy Marco, the trainer, is also acknowledged, and admiration for Herr Zatty, of Hamburg, and the English lady m knickers, who play tiggy-tiggy touchwood m an enclosure with six lions, a humorous bear, two wolves, and a leopard, is hereby expressed with emphasis. The astounding intelligence of the half-dozen elephants, under the benevolent guidance of Captain Burrows, a mentor who knows every part of India, has likewise to be placed on record. "There is no waiting and no delay." "Truth" dimly recollects hearing that assertion somewhere about something, and it is certainly applicable to the ligbtninglike methods the Wirth s. have of gettins oS the remarkable turns m their

mammoth performance. There is such variety, too, m the lengthy series of star turns, each of which is a show m itself. The equestrian troupe, m bright colored raiment, is on and off to the minute, and makes way for a clever child performance, which no sooner disappears than, Marco prods his growling Bengal tigers through their lessons. Miss Phrillipina, the hurricane hurdle jockey, is a cyclone, a monsoon, and a Willy willy thrown into one, and leaves the tremendous audience gap-, ing with astonishment. The applause hasn't died away ere Marziles Wirth is emulating Carter the magician, on horseback.' Walhalla and Heller as clowns introduce some new, clever matter m gymnastics. It takes a darned clever man to play the physical fool. The divided skirt for ladies runs right, -through . the show, and is • rapidly popularising that luresome garment m the country districts of the Dominion. Heller as a 'ground i-ml lofty tumbler is passed by this s?r->re critic as something exccr.t:onai ..ami it is chronicled by si;eci.*» request, that the male heart m j.;»e audience went out to the Phillip)'-., ouiv m. her dashing somersault act on horseback: One of the cleverest things on the programme was "the Great' Rislev act," feet juggling with barrel and table by Herbert Tomaso, who looked a twin brother to the fattest and most coawfortable-looking of the Flying; Herberts. Sampedi Osado is a grinniin 0 * Jap whose balancings and contortion nets are marvellous. Little May Martin runs second to the monkey m contortion, but puts more variety into her work. For sensationalism . those .. ' 'human sky-' rockets," the Flying Herberts, are hard to excel, and the performance is full of thrill. Finally, the M/rhHinvnin-^ horses are unbeatable anvw'nere. This afternoon and' to-night will close the Wellington season, which has been remarkable for pack- 1 ed audiences.