THRILLS AND SPECTACLE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4193, 7 June 1939, Page 8

THRILLS AND SPECTACLE

PERRY BROS. CIRCUS AND ZOO. LAST NIGHT’S PERFORMANCE. The romantic appeal of the circus never fails to draw a crowd, anxious either to revive the vivid memory of a long succession of circuses in their childhood or to see what new 1 miracles can be performed by trapeze artists and bareback riders, or to watch and thrill as a slim girl puts her troupe of snarling lions through their tricks. Last night Te Awamutu had the opportunity of seeing all these old tricks which never fail to bring gasps of delight from children and appreciative clapping from adults, and many more which were novel and clever performed by the artists and animals of Perry Bros.’ Circus. A lengthy and varied programme opened with a grand parade so dear to children’s hearts, and it was followed immediately by a breath-taking display by two acrobats on a flying trapeze. High above the circus ring they flew through tile - air'in evolutions that would turn a stunt aviator green with envy. Outdone in daring were the trapeze artists when the lion tamer went into the cage with his three monstrous, yellow charges. The great brutes crouched and sprang and jumped, at his command, over trestles and hurdles and through loops of fire. In quick succession the programme varied m appeal and humour, a horse that betrayed strangely human attributes in its ability to waltz and mis-lnterpret commands, four sheep which dispelled the notion that sheep are brainless, a noisy interlude with a baby pig, clever backchat between the clowns and ringmaster. Then came a change in the programme, a young lady who showed her grace and skill by dancing and skipping on the back of her cantering horse. She is followed by another young lady who gives an incredible demonstration of how the human frame can be bent and contorted. She defies the idea of skeleton, and while balanced precariously on two tottering chairs, twists her limbs and body into fantastic shapes. The management of Perry Bros, combined in last night’s programme a variety which did not fail to earn unstinted applause for each artist and animal, but outstanding in the remainder of the evening’s fun and spectacle were the female tiger tamer who forced with unshakable coolness the roaring striped oeasts to obey her with graceful, powerful agility, and a display of personality by a small black dog who seemed equally cheerful and appealing whether walking on his fore or his hind feet or simply racing round the ring in the sheer enjoyment of speed. Last night’s success was a performance which will attract many to the concluding shows, if applause is a sign of appreciation.