VALDARES ENTERTAINERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12274, 11 October 1910, Page 2

VALDARES ENTERTAINERS.

This popular company attracted a very large audience at His Majesty's theatre last night, when the opening performance - m Gisborne was given. Many years had elapsed since the .Valdares had visited Gisborne, and coming with the support of other entertainers, they naturally Avon the warm approval of the audience. Taken all round, it is a really good variety entertainment. Those who went specially - to see the very clever trick bicycle riding by the Valdares, who came on near the end of the programme could not fail to enjoy also the other features. The interest .was maintained throughout, . one item following, another m rapid . succession, and> .each- being greeted with warm applause. After the overture "Yankee j Melodies," by Mr A. E. Lupton, Fred Foley took the aildience m hand, mystifying them with some magic and illu sions that had the merit oi being smartly and cleanly carried through, and left the onlookers m a speculative mood as to how the items of the neat display were done. Then came the Varno Sisters and James Titus, with an amusing sketch entitled "McCann's Troubles," m which dancing and singing were introduced, and plenty of fun .was provided. Following tins droll interlude there . was a delightful entertainment by Reggiardo. First he gave an exhibition of light and heavy juggling, m the course . of- which some of the feats achieved by the famous Cinquevalli were done with an ap : parent ease that greatly interested the spectators, the balancing work being remarkably fine. But that portion- of Reggiardo' s turn was superseded m the minds of , the audience when he introduced his trained canine pet. The chief honors were with .a / pretty French poodle of snowy whiteness. .The curlycoated little beauty skipped, turned somersaults, pranced round the stage dir his front and then on liis hind feet,,balanced on the trainer's hand/ waltzed about, and altogether' established himself a great favorite, and amongst other things, m smart attire, waltzed about the stage m fine style.! The children especially . were delighted with this portion of the entertainment,- but it was also a matter of- more than ordinary interest to adults, who could not fail to admire the results of -the - training. .The second part opened with music and dane- ; ng, the first song being "In Old Ten^nessee," with colored pictures and the words of the chorus thrown on the screen. -Bright vaudeville numbers followed, - and then came a ; humorous and clever ventriloquial entertainment, . the Terrible , Terry haying great fun at the apparent expense of 'his master. How, ever, as Terry da essentially a feature enjoyed with great glee by the children the clever commander of his voice should insist on his being rude m more polished language, which could be made quite as witty, forcible, ahd demonstrative., Incidentally a fine cornet solo was introduced, and there was an enthusiastic encore. ' Later Reggiardo gave a sensational performance with swords, bayonets, a gun, and an electric light bulb, his sword swallowing feats being witnessed at close quarters by a committee of two gentlemen, who attested its genuineness. The latter portion of the entertainment was devoted to the cycling display. The two Valdare sisters initi ated this with an exhibition that wsus both cleverly and gracefully done. Then the' brothers joined m the fun, for there was a humorous setting to all the splendid feats. The machines were pedalled round the small space m every imaginable style, and while they were being propelled m any but the ordinary style difficult acrobatic feats were performed with an ease that made them appear the simplest thing out. ' Bucking bronchos could be put m the shade by the .inanimate machines, which were made to rear up, and either wheel made to do, the work ordinarily left to two. At one stage ' the brothers rode round side by side, each havi€g one of the wheels of his bicycle m the air.- Two persons could ride &bout: tiuiteV' easily on one . bicycle,, and it seemed just as easy for three to do it, one sitting- on the front of the bicycle and the other sister on the male cyclist's shoulder: The. whisking of a hat aßout, first by the front and then by the hind wheel, seemed mere incidents of the performance, and'-riding''back-wards or forwards, m any position about the framowork of the bicycle, were quite ordinary portions of the display, and it seemed as; easy to propel the bicycle by hand,, elbow, head, or shoulder as by the feet. There Avas. plenty of exercise on one-Avheeled cycles, and one performer created great amusement by riding about with detached wheels/ pushing the extra Avheel m front of him, us if it. were, part of .the machino he Avas riding, There' was an excellent exhibition of manoeuvres, the. four cyclists, two being ladies, going at a, fast pace, and chang ing from four abreast to pairs, single file, and msiivjmg. evolutions with.astonishing .precision, even to hands ao-osF and the forming of a close circle as they cycled round. Among other feats Avas the riding around/ of " what ' looked like an ordinary carriage wheel, and subsequently riding it from a height doAvn p ladder. ilt Avas altogether a splendid exhibition, of trick cycling. The Gisborne season concludes to-night, ; when another large audience/ may be anticipated. '•■ ■.-■••■'.;-;•' '■' " - - ; ~- .. ' -j