WIRTHS' CIRCUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17825, 6 January 1920, Page 4

WIRTHS' CIRCUS

Tho big font at tho Caledonian Ground was crowded to tho entrances lost night, when Wirt,ha' Cirous ooinmenced a, short fioasoii in Dimcdiii. impart from tho circus there is tho menagerie,, a not unimportant. feature of a comprehensive combine lion of atti-autiom. As to tho circus itself, it has many star turns, —in fact, thero is not a weak act in a lengthy programme, and tho appreciation of tho audictnoa repeatedly found expression in loud and prolonged applause. The programme was commenced by a grand parade of the company, and this was followed by a e'ever exhibition by a troop of eight horses and their male and female riders. Four lions and a. bear wero then brought into ilia tent--noodless to say, securely confined in cages mounted on wheels. One of tho big elephants pushed the two cagcs up to the entrance of tho high iron-paling arena, and into this tho animals wore released. Captain Bernascon put tho animals through a number of triclus, the lions jumping over high hurdle-a and the tear walkinp round 011 two legs in a most laughable fashion. As a climax one of lho lions leapt through a blazing houp and- their trainer stretched himself across two of the animals -which had been ordered to lio down. Thr> whole performance was of a thrilling nature, more especially as one of the lions displayed a pronounced disinclination to obey tlio orders of his trainer. Captain Beraascon, however, went through his pcrfotmanco with tho greatest nonchalant*, and now and again tweaked one of tho lion's ears to show how little ho feared them. A handsome littlo ]>ony —"Brisbane" —was put through, some clover tricks by Mr J. Wei by Cooke, tho ring master of the circus, and four huge elephants went through a number of acts. Ono actually played a mouth organ placed in the end of his trunk, and concluded its turn, as it were, by carrying Mr Cooko out of tho ring by tho sumo useful member. Mr G. Christie did somo clever work in handling and driving six liorse6, standing with a foot on cadi of the last pair,. and Miss Bello Onra gave a wonderful turn on a ihigh trapeze, ihcr one-arm work demonstrating that eho must bo possessed of great strength. Her exhibit-ion right through was of a most finished nature. Bailey's posing dogs, horses, and sheep presented an act out of tho common. The platform was closcd in with a black screen, which was dropped a> each pose was Bet. "Sorrow," "The Shepherd." "Prayer," wero the titles of somo of th;> posc-s, the setter dogs, tho sheep, jind the horse standing quite sieady as the screen was lowered and appearing to understand wliat was required of them. The men, tho animals, and the staging were all coloured white, and each of the settings' was artistically arranged. Dan Goslin and his drilled geesa gave a most laughablo turn, "Corporal Bill" never requiring to be called twice, and at once endeavoured to insert his bill into his trainer's capacious pocket.' Toney Traniield and Freddie Freeman wero seen in a daring double jockey act, one of tho performers standing on the shoulders of the other as their mount careered around tho ring. The Howards presented an exhibition of thought reading, and Philip and Karolina Eddy went through a marvellous performance on the slack wire, the lady running from end to end of tho wire and pirouetting and balancing as easily as if she wero on solid ground. T|ie male performer, as a climax, turned a somersault 011 the wire. An arrangement hung over the centre of the arena enabled the three Zoo sisters to present an act which held tho attention of the audience, tho threo sisters whirling through mid-air hanging only by their teeth. Itobed in gauzcy garments, they looked almost ethereal as tney circled above tho arena. Another clever turn was that given by tho Garcias —threo males—whose acrobatic: and tumbling work was particularly clever. Tho three flying Winskills presented a sensational act on a doublo trapeze, somersaulting and catching hands in mid-air in really astonishing 'fashion, "Charlio Chaplin" being now and again dropped to earth with a- thud, to the huge delight of the audience. 1 Tho Rowland family appeared in a coach and pair in an act entitled "off to the races," somo fine acrobatic work being gone through, as the coach was driven round the ring. Les Montfort gave a startling turn on a huge trapeze, on which he completed a long swinging circle. " Earl Dudley," a handsome pony, danced on his hind feet to the music of the band, as he was drawn on a platform round the ring. The Cevine troupe danced on a slack wire with the greatest abandon, one of tho ladiea daintily stepping to syncopated music. The two clowns, Danny and George, wero excellent fun-makers, and the house simply, shrieked with laughter when a lively fox terrier rushed at Danny, caught his nether garments in his teeth, and hung on. Danny tried to escape, and climbed up a pole, but the terrier retained his hold, and worried away in most diverting manner. Tho circus is well worth seeing, and should b» assured of attendances 'to that of last night during its stay in Dunedin.