WIRTHS’ CIRCUS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 943, 2 April 1908, Page 16

WIRTHS’ CIRCUS.

Auckland rs dearly love a circus so that when Wirth Bros.’ big circus opened i s doors at Freeman’s Bay on Tue day night there was a monster house present to witness the entertainment, the huge tent showing nothing but a sea of faces. The Wirths always bring a. good circus wi.h hem but on th’s occasion have surpassed themselves, it being one of the best ever seen here. The menagerie is a very large one, as there are six elephants, four camels, a bear, and quite a host of lions, tigers. wolves and other assorted carnivora. The entertainment is well diversified, all the turns being good and smar.ly executed.. It is a little difficult to say which is the star attraction as there are so many ; but probably Herr Batty and his animal act and the Flying Herberts .ake pride of place. In the former act, Herr Batty and Miss Vera Robson enter an iron-ringed enclosure and put a number of wild animals through their paces. The list is made up of six lions who do not appear to appreciate th? entertainment,

a frend.y bear, a leopard, and two wolves, these go through a number of tricks and one is left wondering at the in.repedity of their trainer, and the fearless courage of Miss Robson who cannot be blessed, or rather cursed, with anything in the wav of nerves. The Flying Herberts we have seen before, but their clever aerial flights continue to exercise the utmost fascination so daringly and neatly are they carred out. Among a host of other attractions, mention may be made of the children’s circus by the clever Christies; Marco and his performing Bengal tigers ; Miss Phillipine in a wonderful equestrian act; Miss Marziles Wirth and her juggling feats on horseback ; John Welby Cooke in a champion jockey act, in which he performs seemingly impossible feats with the utmost nonchalance ; Hubet Tomaso in a wonderful exhibition of balancing and table spinning; the Ozzapardi Trio who drive in a dog cart round the ring and perform acrobatic feats the while; Sampedi Osado. the Japanese contortomst ; Major, the dancing hors? ; Hellar and Prior in tumbling feats ; May Martin, the flexible marvel; Walhalla, Heler and dummy clowns ; and many other good .urns. Special mention must be made of the elephants who do all sorts of things in the most knowing way and appear to enjoy themselves hugely, no matter whether they may be claying a

mouth organ, standing on their heads, shamming to be asleep or balancing on barrels. They are a fine herd and p etty well constitute an attractive circus in themselves. The entertainment concludes with a fine exhibition of high jumping by the New Zealand pony Maori, Lady Morton, who has a record of 7ft 3fin, and the Qutensanld jumper Clifton. The pony jumped splendidly, but the star performer was Lady Morton whose clean jumping earned her rounds of app.ause. She cleareid 6ft qin without much apparent effort. The s?ason in Auckland is a very short one, finishing on Saturday next. There will be a matinee each day as well as the evening performance. Lovers of animals should certainly pay th? circu • a visit.