CIRCUS COMES TO LEVIN

Chronicle (Levin), 30 October 1947, Page 4

CIRCUS COMES TO LEVIN

"BIG TOP" PACKED FOR CLEYER PERFORMANCE Crowds gathered in Rugby Park last night to see the first circus in Levin for about ten years. Many children who had never before seen one watched with avid interest the various items presented by the performers in the "Big Top," which has a seating capacity of 2000. Favourites with the children are the performing ponies, which, with monxeys as riders, galiop at a smart pace round the ring. They jump nurdles and go beneath obstacles, which their riders leap over with remarkable agility. The clowns in their multi-colour-ed costumes present some amusing incidents. As they tumble and throw themselves around in the ring they perform some feats which, if done by an artist in a more serious mood, would be acclaimed as a dare-devil exhibition. In one display they jump on and off the back of a galioping horse, and fight and push and pull each other to the ground. S )me amazing acrobatics are periormed by the trapeze artists as ihoy somersault on and off the trapeze, and twist their bodies into knots. These performers literaliy take their life in their hands, for as they swing in mid-air all that prevents them from falling is their grip on ea.ch other 's wrists. Ihe performing elephants perhaps deserve the most attention. Piaced last 'On the programme, Gheir's is a fitting finale to the whole show. As these huge animals entered the ring they were enthusiastically greeted by the children. Balancing on two feet on a small stool seemed no effort to the "younger" of these mammoths. The oider elephant, reputed to be 100 years of age, earefully and solemnly stepped over four men in a tow. Besides this they "sat" on one of the helpers and piayed a mouthorgan piaced at the end of the irunk. Many were perhaps disappointed at the absence of lions and tigers, and all the other performing animals which used to be a common sight at a circus. The lack of these, however, was compensated for by the many acts staged by equine performers. One pair of magnificent white horses carried a young man in a cream sun, and a girl in ballerina's costume, who danced on their backs. There is a very knowing pony which can take a knotted handkerchief off both fore and hind legs. Another trick is to take coloured rags out of a box at its master's bidding. The circus, which is under the direction of Sole Bros,, will be open to the public again tonight for what will probably be the last performance of the season.