THE GIRARDS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4360, 11 March 1875, Page 2

THE GIRARDS.

The Girards opened last evening at the Odd Fellows' Hall to an overflowing house, and though they appeared under certain obvious disadvantages, the accounts as to the surprising nature of their performance were fully borne out. Lexicographers provide no word which would fitly, describe their actions or motions. It is Girardisrn, pure and simple; which may be taken to mean that it is new, original, or strange, or a conbination of all three. It is something that had not been seen or heard of till the Girards appeared, for never before was the " human form divine" known to be capable of conforming, to such grotesque humors. There is no talking. The whole business is pantomime throughout, yet so rapidly is it conducted that although it occupies twenty minutes," it seems incomprehensibly short. ; Change, rapidity of motion, diabolic' music, clashing of cymbals, the beating of an unearthly drum, twisting and twining of'"limbs; fantastic ' dresses, . and a precision and system about it all, electrify the audience for a brief space, and thenwonder succeeds." One of the performers feems as if his too solid' flesh had • melted into '-a, gelatinous substance, so that he possesses the power of describing convoluted circled in the air with his toe as gracef uUy as an ordinary' individual would perform the- same motion with his finger. Next he.slides the length of a twelve feet table with his* legs spread longitudinally, and falls on t'other side quite gracefully ; stands on one foot' and flourishes the other over the'head, of his confrere, with the greatest ease 'imaginable ; and walks on hands and "feet in a maimer highly suggestive' of the origin of .the species.:.. The Girards are wonderful—truly -wonderful.- They are the first 'in their peculiar line;;and probably will be the last i and it is, therefore, liot strange that, they have ; created a furore wherever they have appeared. ' •' : ' ' ''' - - : The performance was varied by the legerdemain tricks of 'Valentine Jacobs, -who also exhibited considerable power as a ventriloquist, and gained a .fair'share of applause. : The Girards appear for'three more evenings only. The, .public should. iniss none. of these performances. ..' . ''''. . .','".' _' ;.