WIRTH’S CIRCUS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20205, 16 January 1934, Page 3

WIRTH’S CIRCUS.

Entertainment Packed With Laughter and Thrills. THE OPENING NIGHT. For over forty years Wirth's Circus lias proved an irresistible attraction to thousands of Christchurcli people. Kotli young and old have succumbed again and again to the spell east by an entertainment which seems to improve with age. Last evening, when the circus Jpened its first periormanee in the city, scarcely a thing seemed changed. Although there were new acts m plentiful variety, and although there was not a dull moment in the entire programme, many of the people who packed the tent were taken back to the time when they first, saw the circus as hoys and girls. The tiny black ponies still trotted .faultily round the ring, the red-nosed clowns cracked their familiar jokes and the elephants paced with ponderous dignity in the sawdust. But Wirth’s Circus has changed much since it began to establish itself as a Christchurch institution. New and sensational features have been introduced, and Into a single evening s entertainment are packed enough thrills to satisfy anyone. Wirth's Circus to-day is one of the finest, shows in existence, anc? because it has maintained a consistent high standard for so many years, it. has been able to compete with success against more modern forms of enteraThee big tent was packed long before the .grand parade of horses, elephants and ponies announced the beginning of an entertainment packed with laughter and excitement. Captain Eric Flyger introduced his educated brown bear, which lay On his back ond drank from a bottie in perfect good nature, while the children in the audience laughed with delight. Then, to the sharp sound of a whip and staccato commands, tawny lions jumped gracefully through a blazing hoop, posed with scarcely any instruction, and then leaped back Into their cages again. Wirth's Circus is a family business all the way through, and in nearly every act some member of the famous family showed the skill they have inherited from the four brothers who started the show sixty years ago. Balancing with perfect ease on the hack of a galloping white horse, Mr Philip Wirth, jun., showed his skill in a. jockey act. Those present held their breath as he jumped from the ring on to his horse’s back at the very moment that It leaped a hurdle. Sugar played a great part in the clever act presented by Miss Gladys Wirth. Three pairs of horses were drilled, rolled over and then trotted round to receive a reward from the deep pocket of her coat.

Applause greeted the appearance of three tiny black ponies with long tails and flowing manes. Perfectly controlled by Mr Philip Wirth, jun., they trotted daintily round the edge of the ring, went through their tricks, being rewarded with sugar lumps. Three monkeys, who staged a wild race round the ring as they clung to the ponies’ necks, brought the act to an amusing finish. Half the attraction of this circus lies in its horses, and they were usecP in several other acts. Miss Doris Wirth posed her horse, “ Queenie ” in artistic fashion, while Zilam Ham. daring Cossack rider, demonstrated some amazing feats of horsemanship. The elephants do ail the work for the circus before it begins, but they had their reward last evening. Holding each others’ tails with their curling trunks, they paraded gravely round the ring. Guided by Mr Harry Mooney, two balanced on woocPen blocks . and waved ponderous feet in time to the music. Their trainer pretended to be dead, and. with the Australian flag draped over his body, he was carried from the ring by two of the elephants, a third leading the way with one foot limping and a white flag held in his trunk.

Any circus would be lost without clowns, and Wirth’s have several who keep the audience laughing with their antics. Stilt walking, comic weightlifting act and some burlesque trick riding were among the things which delighted the crowd, while three Continental clowns provided a musical turn. Acrobats of unusual agility and skill kept the audiepee in a state of suspense with their daring feats. The Seven Flying Nelsons performed almost incredible somersaults and other aerial acts, which made peo]ile gasp with amazement. Whirlwind tumbling by six women acrobats was almost as exciting. The climax of the entertainment was a hair-raising display of daredeyilry on the trapeze by Aloys Peters. V lth * ,ie * p ”t in darkness and a spotlight on the trapeze high above the ring, he put a noose round his neck and swung into space. He dangled for a moment, then the lights Went up, and he climbed down the rope lacPder. An amazed audience left the tent, and the first performance of the finest circus in Australia and New Zealand was over