BURTON'S CIRCUS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5251, 16 December 1878, Page 3

BURTON'S CIRCUS.

The opening performance of Burton's great Australian Circus on the Market Beserve, Princes street, last Saturday evening, was witnessed by several hundred persona, and was a great success. The troupe, which comprises about thirteen or fourteen artistes, is an unusually talented one. It i 3 particularly notable for its gymnasts ; but it also includes some splendid equestrians, funny clowns, and exponents of other branches of the "spangles and sawdust " profession. Not the least interesting feature either ia the stud of valuable and well-trained horses aud handsome trick ponies brought into the ring to go through their various acts. The entertainment, in fact, is not only an exceedingly clever one, but also enjoyable to a degree. This is saying a yreat deal. Circuses are sometimes regarded as being specially intended for the amusement oi children, so that when a troupe is able to sustain the interest of a vast crowd of adult spectators for more than a couple of houre, as was done by Burton's Circus Company on Saturday night, the fact is indicative of merit of no common order. The entertaiment began with a display of French vaulting by the entire company, in which some splendid feats were performed by the leading athletes. Next came an equestrian act, called "Little Queensland on his beautiful pony," and then some feats of balancing on au almost invisible wire by Mr Wilson. One of the most interesting parts of the performance was a dog aud monkey act, entitled "Stick to him, Bill." A black retriever dog, with saddle and stirrups complete, trots round the ring with a monkey on its back, and leaps over poles, hurdles, and fences, whilst its rider goes through a number of txceedingly amusing tricks. It also leaps through hoops, and concludes by jumping through a paper hoop in flames, with the monkey clingiDg tenaciously to the saddle. Messrs Walhalla, Lazelle, and Moffit, went through a series of extraordinary gymnastic feats, eliciting ths warm plaudits of the onlookers. Mons. Loyal, a French jockey, performed a very clever equestrian act, during which he executed a feat that is rarely attempted in the arena on account of it being a most difficult one, namely, to take a running jump on to a barebacked horse that was cantering round the ring and land on it without using his hands in any way. The clowns, of whom there were three adults and two juveniles, helped to make the fun flow "fast and furious" by retailing bad jokes, and playing tricks on the master of the ring ; and Mdlle. La Kosierre, assisted by Mr Brame, went through a double eqnestrian act in a very graceful manner. Little Jack Cousens, or Young Australia, as he calls himself, promises to became a, very accomplished rider and gymnast. He displayed his abilities to great advantage by riding three barebacked horses at one time, and in sundry other ways. The performance was brought to a termination by an exhibition of lightning tumbling. It will be repeated this evening, and will doubtless attract large audiences for two or three weeks.