WIRTH'S CIRCUS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1986, 17 February 1914, Page 9

WIRTH'S CIRCUS.

AN EXCELLENT SHOW. Wirth Bros.' Cireus opened a short season in Wellington hist .night to crowded benches of people. In some respects, if not- in all respects, the sJiow is ouo of the host that the firm have over presented in their ninny New Zealand tours. The menagerie, which holds all the little- people and not' a fow' of grown-ups in that fascination in winch tear is a component party, is still a very well stocked department of tho show, tho special attraction being Lizzio, tho hippo, and her fearsome "smile." Inside the ring the performance consists of such a number of acts of. real merit that the spectator comes away with no very certain idea of what lie liked best. The sneotacular equestrian displays and feats wero of tho usual typo., tat without them a tent perforitjanca would lose much of the charm for many. Earl Dudley, a beautiful, fiery black and white pony, rode r-ound tJis Wits o« a lorry drawn by a more sobbf quadruped, and performed % number of tncl.fs which won the unqualified l admiration of the big crowd. ■ Tlws Christie Brothers,, and especially Alec Chris-tio, .performed a 6eries of daring feats of bare-back riding, jumping obstacles, throwing somer* 6aults. aud seeming as rnucli at home in, difficult positions on their insecure- foothold of' a galloping horse's 'back as many other aMilotes appeat to be on a gymnasia*. mat. The Baston Brothers have a sensational acrobatic act on. horsebttck.. One of their feats is a head-to-hcad balatico, the lower man standing'the while, Oft horseback, as wonderful a balancing act as it is possible to caticoive. Herr Schmidt appears With Ms strangely assorted troupe of five. Solar bears-, two grizzly bears, and one Very fine Danish boar hound. The -astounding tilings, that this daring trainer induces these savage beasts of uncertain, temper to do aro so many as to make description, of. them impossible hsre. The tears go through their business with no very great willingness, but only one o/f theni, a grizzly, which- objected to toboggiinning for the amusement of tho .multitude, showed any temper last liight, The only other animal turn Was that of Doblado's little .flock of trained Spanish mountain Sheep. This turn ends with a farcical mock battle' between Dobladp and a ram, which butts with great persistency and some viol-. ence, getting his master into such a plight that the crowd- shrieks with laughter. By far th.ernpat sensational performance in the show is the wirftwaßting of La Belto Victoria. This very much bespangletlj smiling yotfhg lady climbs on to a 'wire at a fair height, ascending by a crazy; ladder in tho middle of tho ring. . Then the ladder is taken awaj", and sho stag's on a wire for tho whole of her dftfwg display, witheut any pole or other aid to balance. All |t-ho difficult feats!.b'f other performers she does, with the greatest ease and confidence, and others never before attempted by-other-artists here, She concludes with a sensational swing oil the wire which is slacked almost'clown to. the ground to give it play. Standing on th.p wire with both feet, or one. foot, at will, she swings over a range of- at least 20 feet, leaning out at times almost to a horizontal positiqn to jteep oil the rope, and then stops t-lw swing quite abruptly. without looking at all like losing bat ance. La Belle Victoria is far and (tway the best wire performer that has ever shown in Now Zealand. Another thrill-is.Desperado's dive from the top : of tlio highest tent polo, through a- gap in the canvas on tij a curved wooden platform, alighting on chest and hands.. The.slope or, curve of iha shining, boards iallows'liini to.''take-'the shock -gently, ■ otherwise.' ho could never ropeat the Idive. ■~Thps ^9j^pn..;f amily, varying id size from a greyjiaifpd, parent? to a tiny mite who arrives, in the ring in a" capacious kit bag, appear in a morvetlous acrobatic, ..balaiici'ngi and tumbling ■ and Eisloy working display. They were among the favourites on'the bill last night and won frequent applause. The: flying Cadonas, of wham there are. throe, .perform, with' remarkable- neatness arid certainty a series of tricks on ' swinging trapezes. Altogether there are ■ upwards of 20 items on the progfapirno and of not a single oho could it bo truthfully said that it was- Sot daring, clever, or amusing. '' I