AMAZING ACROBATS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20079, 27 October 1939, Page 5

AMAZING ACROBATS

NORTH CHINA TROUPE BALANCE AND DEXTERITY GISBORNE SEASON OPENS The attendance at the Opera House last night indicated that many Gisborne people had heard something of the reputation established by the North China Troupe of gymnasts, jugglers, and equilibrists. The brilliance of the display given by these remarkable artists must have been far and away beyond the expectations of the most sanguine patron, however. II is safe to say that no company of the kind lias ever shown in Gisborne such a variety of talent combined with the polish of true stage troupers. Their season should be a profitable one.

The troupe consists of nine Chinese, who seem to be as much at home standing upon their hands as when in the normal position; who all seem masters of balance and timing; and who appeal to the eye as much as to the mind. Two adult Chinese women are included in the troupe, and there iarc also three younger artists who bid uair to achieve the standing of their elders in all that makes a tumbling and equilibrist act popular. Spectacular Equilibrism Last night's audience gasped at three or four highly'spectacular feats, and marvelled at the sleight of hand performance which was interspersed through the act as a whole. Comedy was not lacking, and the very slight amount of dialogue, in broken English, comprised mostly quips at the expense of one artist or another. The master juggler in particular was the object of several amusing sallies by other members of the troupe.

Chief among the individual equilibrist turns was one in which a powerful young Chinese placed'one chair on top of another, climbing and balancing on each in turn, the lower rising eventually until the atrobal had almost disappeared above the proscenium. To finish oil the turn, he took the last chair and balanced it on two legs, while lie did a handstand on its upper edges.

The same artist co-operated in the most spectacular turn of the evening, in which another member of the troupe balanced a long bamboo pole upon his forehead anci carried there the weight of his confrere while the latter performed a series of difficult feats at the top of the polo. This called for an unusual degree of strength, as well of ability, and it was claimed that the turn was introduced into New Zealand for the first time by ibis troupe.

Exacting Body Strains

Body strains appear to mean little to these highly-developed artists, and some extraordinary feats of strength were performed with startling case. In one instance, ii senior member of the troupe reversed his arms in the position in which a wrestler applies the surf-board hold, and bore upon his wrists the weight of one of the women. To carry the weight of half-a-dozen upon his shoulders, arms, and thighs appeared to be child's play for this muscle-man.

Not less brilliant was an all-too-brif-i display of bar work, in which several members of the troupe performed feats never before seen in Gisborne. Tire facility with which they completed extremely difficult feats made the display all the more attractive, and the audience gasped as one gymnast repeatedly swung himself in the grand circle, dropped his shoulder on top of the bar, and then reversed his action with a roll, all grips free.

Some of the younger members of •J-.e troupe also displayed specialties which are developments of old show turns, very highly polished and improved upon. Their talents were not, limited to acrobatics and equilibrium, however, and in Herbert Young, billed as the Chinese Bobby Breen, the programme has a juvenile singer of marked ability, who was recalled time and again by the delighted audience. Good Supporting Features Supporting the main feature of the programme is a group o! European artists of varied talents, who provide the first portion of last night's programme. The Campbell brothers, concertina specialists, gave a novel and attractive turn in introducing the popular "iioomps-a-Daisy" and other recent “hits," and Roys ton. ventriloquist, scored a great success with his two talking dolls, part of his turn being novel to Gisborne audiences. Clever dancing by Latona and Sparks, Continental artists, proved highly popular, and the male impersonation turn by Effie Fellowes was' equally well received. Contributions also were made to the programme by Judy Cameron and Grant Borman, who took part in lightning humorous sketches, and Reg Morgan, a baritone of great range and control.

The company lias a capable orchestra, and the dressing and general appointments of tiro performance are well ahead of the average for I touring companies. The season will be continued to-night and to-morrow.