THE CIRCUS.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1730, 20 July 1874, Page 2

THE CIRCUS.

!?wo performances were given on Saturday by the Circus company—one in the afternoon, for the special amusement of the juveniles, and the usual programme in the evening.' That in the afternoon i was attended by a considerable number of, young people with their parents and I friends, but there is no doubt a larger number would have' been present had the notice been given earlier. . In the evening the Theatre Royal was well filled, and the programme provided, which was very lengthy and unusually varied in character, appeared to give the utmost satisfaction. Equestrian performances appear to be' always, attractive, and especially so to young people. The company at present exhibiting at the Royal have not a very extensive stud of horses, but they make up in training what is wanting in numbers. Mr. Braham's bare back riding is equal to anything that has bean seen here before, and he came in for a large share of the applause. The old act of the lovers, the shipwrecked sailor Tom Bowling, and other scenes in the circle are given with their oldfashioned completeness, and.some additional effect which renders {hem ever acceptable. . Mr. King introduced -a tricky pony whose antics caused considerable merriment; and the full was kept going fast and furious by theHwo clowns—Messrs. W. H. Foley and J.\A. "South. The members of the Siamese Troupe alternate their clever performances in juggling, balancing and gymnastics with the displays of horsemanship, and I some : of the members of the troupe m-

- _ _ troduce most novel features. One was especinlly noticeable. A young fellow jumps through hoops of various sizes something after the manner of a clown in a pantomime, and, cleverer.Vill, ho tabes a headforemost leap through a wire cylinder some four feet long, on the bottom of which arc arranged a number of lighted candles. The neatness and ease with which ihis difficult feat is done are something wonderful. It is quite new (to us) and it is simply wonderful. For real variety thi.%''mammoth troup are "unrivalled, nnd the alterations effected in' the stage of the theatre afford a capital view of the wli'ole performance.-"- The concluding, portioa of the .entertainment was the spectacular drama of "Mazeflip£," in which Miss Docy^Mninwaring assumed the role of the hero,'bound to the back of a Tartary steed. In"this piece' Miss Ada Isaac Menkin attained a >world-^ild celebrity some years ago. To produce the piece here, Mr. Douglas (tragedian), Miss Mainwaring and the members of the Collier Dramatic Troupe have been cngagpd. The-story'of Mazeppa is well known to the readers of Byron s poems ;-. and as far as roaiity can be given to such a t production.- it- wa< done on; Saturday night, the piece,- being produced with effects seldom witnessed in .connection with a travelling circus. Nothing hks been left undono to render the entertainment at the Eoyal attractive.' Thera'-Ig a capital band; the 'stage is we'll lit, and the different acts follow each other in rapid succession,; and the intervals ire commendably brief. • ' j