THRILLING CIRCUS ACTS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1930, Page 11

THRILLING CIRCUS ACTS

WIRTH BROTHERS’ BIG SHOW. Forms of amusement may change, talkies take the place of the silent picture and challenge the legitimate stage, but that a good circus has not lost itsp ower to charm large audiences was demonstrated at Wirth Brothers’ circus in New Plymouth last night. There is a kind of a tradition that a -circus is a thing apart from other forms of amusement; it is certainly so in the minds of children. Perhaps its popularity is due to the fact that circuses are not frequent visitors. The programme was long and varied but there were three acts which were unique—a performing bear demonstration, a troupe of acrobats and four trapeze artists. A tall steel cage, built along the ringside surrounded a tussling, roaring group of polar and brown bears. The keener stepped among the bears and finally order was restored and the animals seated kemeelves in a circle. A brown bear deftly rolling a ball across the ring opened the ’ proceedings. A tier of sullen polar bears was formed on a tall pedestal. It was picturesque in the extreme as the great white beasts crouched immobile, with heads bowed, intently watching the keeper. The polar bears which pushed the little brown bear in a go-cart and the three bears, that swaggered drunkenly towards three large bottles held by the keeper amused the audience. The finale was an avalanche of shambling bears sliding ponderously down a long shute to enter the cages. It was not all joking as could be seen by the polar bear which, entering his cage, turned savagely on the keeper. Three tall men and three agile boys clad in bright blue (.tunics entered the ring as the Lias Troupe. It was hard to believe acrobats could attain such , finishedprecision. Every motion was completed systematically. Feet to feet somersaults were the basis of the act. The three men lying on their backs with feet in air tossed the boys like rubber balls. The finish of the act saw the acrobat catch a boy on each of his feet and, exerting an upward thrust, he flipped both into the air and like cats they landed on their feet. High in the roof of the “big top” the Flying Hamars, four excellent trapeze artists, swung and twisted above the netting below. Passing on to the swinging bars they executed double and triple somersaults with an easy daring that astounded. All the other acts were good, for every performer appeared fit and trained. Interspersed between them were diversions by a number of clowns. The tall man—ho appeared at least seven feet —and the dwarf, and the man with the squeeky voice, all helped to keep the audience in good humour. An overture by the band conducted by Mr. A. F. Newman, followed by the grand parade of all the animals and performers opened the show. The Santey Duo Act trapezists performed in large hoops balanced in between on a pivot. Slowly the wheel spun with its human burden and gathered speed for a furious gyration. Miss Gladys, the rider of a black stallion, and Mr. A. Clarke’s six black ponies gave interesting exhibitions. Four elephants, guided by Miss E. May, went through a series of military manoeuvres and finished with a clever sham battle. A somewhat. similar performance was that of six Australian brumbies, introduced by Miss May. Falling and slipping with a sang froid that did not allow him to loose his cigarette the Great Muldoon went through a series of dangerous evolutions and finished by overbalancing a piled up structure of tables on which he was perched. The young ring master of the circus, Mr. Philip Wirth, jun., superintended a finished horse act. A crimson juggler, Mr. A. Clarke, on a snow-white horse circled the ring dexterously tossing numbers of rings and bails. Miss Madeline, a graceful riding butterfly dancer, fluttered above the ring, waving her gossamer wings in marked contrast to the weight lifting feminine athlete ClaudL Alba, who, hanging, from a trapeze, lifted with her teeth a cannon weighing 2441b5. while it was fired. The Three Arconas were fearless in a superb balancing act in which Betty Arcona stunted on the top of a pole nearly touching the roof of the tent. The pole was balanced precariously on her companion’s head; .Two equestrians, the Klarkoskies, performed the feat attributed to "Young ■ Lochinvar” when one rider hurtled on to the horse in front of her companion. Miss Dorris and her golden statue-horse gave three or four picturesque tableaux.

It was a night of thrills for the audience, but only one more day’s work for the company, for as the people left the 75 workmen were dismantling the big top to pass on to other towns.