BARTON'S CIRCUS

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16144, 23 February 1918, Page 10

BARTON'S CIRCUS

There is invariably rejoicing in the child-heart when a circus comes to town. Hours spent in watching the sawdust ring witii its impatient ringmaster, its clown and pantaloon, its cantering ponies, and its rider-folk and acrobats in their habits of gorgeous hues and sequinned splendour ?»re hours of sheer fascination to even the most unimaginative youngster. There was a very large audience of children, old and young, at Colombo street south last night, when Barton's circus opened its Christchurch season—in fact grown-ups actually predominated in numbers; for the old-time circus t>as lost much of its glitter and has given place to an entertainment more of a vaudevillian stamp, and as such carries a double appeal to both old and young. Last night's programme contained one or two acts which would enhance any vaudeville bill. One of these was submitted by .the Fredos, two boys who performed distinctly clover acrobatic feats while unconcernedly playing "The Blue Danube" waltz on their violins. Their act was neat and unusual, and won hearty applause. Next in order of favour came the performance of the Three Altons, who did some clever tumbling *iti perfect time and concert. Mena Val, billed as the "only lady stock-whip cracker,"- cut bottles in half with a 10ft whii> and neatly flicked a cigarette from the mouth of the obliging "local gentleman from the audience," who profferred his services in < order that the audience might have special interest in the act'. The same lady, though under a different name, performed some trick cycling later in the evening. Marguerite, a bareback rider, performed some clover feats while riding a largo cream-coloured horse round the ring, and certainly looked a most fascinating figure in her white satin costume. Daisy Alton did some sensational wire-walking, finishing _up by skipping ou a silver cord, while Gracie Bell did a Japanese sword act and walked a ladder of sharp-edged swords with her bare feet. Carl Franks' s riding feats with five horses were popular, and Master Lindsay's high-jumping ponies did some clever business. The Laughing Clowns, the Merry Denos, provided heaps of fun for everybody, in the most approved manner of circus clowns. The ensemble items were all good, and two of them veiy amusing. One, entitled "Fun In a Stockyard," in which a number of the circus's bucking mules, and donkeys appeared, was uproariously received by the youngsters in the audience, while the concluding item of the show—a steeplechase with horses and ponies ridden by a number of venturesome local riders, was wildly hilarious. The same programme will be given to-night. A matinee performance was announced for this afternoon, but the management has decided to postpone it to prevent clashing with. the Red Cross Motor Carnival at Sockburn. The matinee will be given on Wednesday next. "THE SPY SYSTEM." An American s sacrioco 01 life, and all it holds dear to iiun, to save liis countrymen ana learn the socrels of tne (jernian spy system, forms the stirring tneme of ••Tho Spy system/' tne nrst of tht» \ViLliaiu 1' ox big Standard productions to come to Cliristchurai, and wiiicii, witli tlie world-iamous actor, Dustin Farnum, in the lead, opens at StarJand Theatre on Monday. Mr Fainum piuys tne role of Mark Quaintance, a man of wealth, and social position, who undertakes the hazardous task of gaining a list of the Teutonic spies in tne United States. In Berlin ne finds it necessary to enroll himself among those spies before he can learn where the book containing their names is kept. Then he gets possession and sends it to the American Ambassador, while he himself is court-martialed. The odd feature about the thrilling drama is that it contains all the vigour and excitement of war, without a single battle scene being Hashed on tlie screen. Realising that the public has a surfeit of such views, the Fox Company has arranged its story in such fashion that it was found unnecessary to fire a single shot during tho taking of the picture. "The Spy System" is what is known in the picture show Business as a three, two, and one shilling attraction, but Starland's usual prices will prevail during the Christchurch season. Seats may be booked at The Bristol, and patrons aro advised to note the hours of screening as advertised. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. All next week the latest MutualChaplin comedy, "The Cure," will be screened at Everybody's Theatre. "Charlie," his nerves wrecked owing to dissipation, goes to a sanatorium to S e t cured. His efforts to wrap himself round a glass or two of nasty health-waters are said to be well worth watching, and his adventures in the xurkish hath chambers are also the cause of much merriment. Tho screening hours of "Tlie Cure" will be 1.15, -.So, 4.45, 6.35, 8.15, and 9.50 p.m.

CHRISTCHURCH MALE VOICE CHOIR. As indicating the successful launching or the Christchurch Male Voice Choir, an announcement appears in another 100 more seats are variable for prospective subscribers. »W.if svnnS5 vnn S the fact that Christcnnport. L°?f n S? . at present possess a modate eve n 6 1000 ently , lar £° 10 com " +Jio iOOO people. Members of finll ™ are , at pres * nt making their SticiprjTthat the s '? * nd * 5 will * secur^vi&t^fc^ 1^ . T ■J LI > J E^.T' Y THEATRE. At Liberty Theatre next serial, ''The Xeglecterl \v,t •»' *n i screened. One of S be 1 .we supporting: Die-

tures "will be "A Gambler's Soul,' starring ~VV. S. Hart, Sylvia Bremer, Alma Reubens, and Mildred Hams. "The Sawdust Ring" and "The Secret Kingdom" "will be shown to-day and to-night for the last time.