BIRTHS' CIRCUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16577, 28 December 1915, Page 6

BIRTHS' CIRCUS

A STRONG OQMBINANTION. The Wirths have always been noted for taking with them on tour a strong combination o£ circus artists, a goodly number of handsome and well-trained horsLS, and a by no means 'meagre menagerie. 'Iheir Dunedin season opened yesterday, arid tho performance was witnessed under much more pleasant conditions than usua', the use of the Kensington Drill Hall having been secured on this occasion. When previous visits have been made everything has been under canvas, and, good as the tent accommodation has been, the pleasure of tho evening was not increased by the conditions under which the show was seen. Another advantage gained in having the use of the hall is that there is infinitely more space available, and there is the still further benefit that the proprietors are _ in a position to defy rain and wind interfering with their enterprise. It has happened that heavy gales have compelled the tents to be lowered, and disappointment to tho public has resulted, but the possibility o£ such a thing is now obviated. The attendance last evening was a very large one, and at the close of the performance the fact that those present recognised that they had been treated to a really superior show could not be doubted. The applause was very frequent, very hearty, 'and thoroughly deserved. Certain of the items were on well established circus lines, but tho programme was by no means devoid of novelty. Equestrian acts, whether performed by male or female members of a troupe, must of necessity present some features of sameness, however clever they may be, and cih'tainly nothing his been seen within memory to eclipse what was placed before the spectators last evening. There was the customary grand parade, the spectacle being on a somewhat imposing scale, those mounted afterwards ;roing through a number of evolutions in the ring. Dan Yelding gave an American inchan Scout act, and Mussi Mamive did some brilliant riding feats, military in character. He exhibited great intrepidity, and appeared to be quite as much at home in the saddle ae anyone yet seen. Mr G. Christie gave the familiar, and always enjoyable seven-horse picture act, in which he handled his steeds very dexterously, and two or three of the lady members of the ti'oupe, including Miss Wirth, contributed graceful and picturesque exhibitions of horsewomanship, and performed feats that were a step in advance of what ladies are wont to attempt in a circus arena. All the horses used were of considerable beauty, but perhaps tho most handsome of them were reserved for special acts of their own. One magnificent animal was introduced by Mr J. Cooke, and there were also several clever ponies—one or two of them tho smallest specimens of horseflesh ever seen— that showed a high degree of training, and extraordinary intelligence. A number of performing lions were liberated within the usual senn-0 enclosure »nd put through a variety of lumping and other exercises, and sermo half-dozen elephants exhibited wonderful sagacitv when paraded in tlieir turn. The greatest animal novel tv was. however, the anpoarance of a number of seals and sea lion>= in an altogether unique performance. The most striking feature was the astonishing power they possessed of balancing all sorts of articles on their noses. This was b'lt one of mmv Ws thev «nd almost always with eertnintv. The norfnrmnneo wqs not only wonderful but. intensely ami"=intr. »nd tlii climax in w-*s rcvli^d when one of the in : ned heartilv in tlr> h o 'idelannincr w>"th its Tn T.nivain the company has n vrv clever wirewalker. ind th" Loretta Twins, wbo a'-e vourcr ln«-1v <r T 'n'in:'sH r,v> , "nod on th" horizontal bar. their feits nwH'itirr with o'lit o much npnrovil n? nn- nf the tnanv el"ver items pres""W!. TTirdi +i'o. and Kr^e^tnni"" ■"id TVo'-ii.-of in wh'Vh ?om° wonderful tb''o"nh \v"r" mnrle. olosintr number ,in th" r>ro"-rnm<nr\ Th"r~ n-"rc scvcol clowns m"''' l v»*-v merrv wh"n"ver thev' TJt* iV fiii-lv r'vtrnsivo, n <11^ rp""h thnt M'ill interest vning and old. Tb? nerformanee will be repeated this evening.