BURTON'S CIRCUS.

Southland Times, Issue 3298, 15 January 1879, Page 2

BURTON'S CIRCUS.

The opening performance in connection with Burton's; Australian Circus attracted a very large audience last night, the enormous marquee being comfortably filled" in every part. The company is a very strong one numerically, and, so- far as artistic ability is concerned, it is greatly. abo-ve- the average. The evening's entertainment was inaugurated by the whole of the company; appearing in the ring in appropriate : acrobatic custom. Jumping from a springboard followed, culminating in somersaults over the backs of half-a-dozen horses. Equestrian skill of ano mean order was displayed by a youth whose professional designation is " Young Australia," and a clown on a slack wire'niaintained his equilibrium without any* accessory -in the shape of a pole, and perform;^ several' tricks with hoops in a sm-prising"matmer. A second equestrian act was varied by a somewhat amusing incident. A man wearing an unprofessional garb, and apparently in a very 'ntn^i^ated condition, made his way into the ring, from which he was Hummuiiijr ejected. -.-. He returned, however, and after some amusing .." business," mounted- a horse and) divested himself of a number of superfluous "garments while it cantered round the ring with the performer standing on its back. The strong feature of the exhibition was perhaps the performances of a horse and two ponies whose docility and rare accomplishments were indicative of long and careful training. At the instigation of the ring master, they performed most surprising feats, and the complete subordination to which these noble . animals may be brought by the human will was forcibly exemplified. The acrobatic feats of a youth of tender years on the back of a diminutive pony elicited much admiration from the the auditors ; a -double act by a lady and gentleman proved the medium ' for the display of some fine horsemanship and' attitudinizing; and an artiste, in the attire of a French jockey, essayed a barebacked performance with great success. A long and highly attrative programme concluded with a variety of acrobatic feats by the members of the company. Several clowns appeared /during the evening, and enlivened, <the proceedings by humorous o Dservations and grotesque contortions. The requisite music was provided, by a brass band. The performance, taken in its entirety, was of a first-class character, and is pre-eminently worthy of public support. It will be repeated during the remaining evenings of this week. r