CHIARINI'S CIRCUS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1164, 9 January 1880, Page 2

CHIARINI'S CIRCUS.

As was generally anticipated, there was „an.almost crowded house, or rather tent, at last evening's performance of the circus, something like 5000 persons being present. Owing, to .some reason, the performance did not (Commence until some time after the appointed hour, but although the audience were kept in anxious suspense and demonstrations of disapproval were indulged in, it had the effect of permitting everyone'getting comfortably seated prior to the opening of the entertainment. As usual, the opening- item was the grand in which a number of ladies and gentlemen on horseback went through a number of evolutions, including various figures of quadrilles. One noticeable feature in this was the performance of the horse ridden by Signor Chiarini. Signor Bartole then did some tumbling, and astonished the audience by the manner in which he distorted his body into all sorts of shapes, the most wonderful feat being the wriggling of his head from his body, which gave one the idea that he might, by a little extra exertion, sever the one from the other without the use of so much as a common pen-kiiife. Seldom-has a circus ring been graced by a prettier sight than was presented by the presence and performances of a couple of zebras introduced: by Mr. Sylvester, and the docility of the animals and thorough control by the director of ceremonies " gave rise to no little surprise." Miss Jeannette Watson's equestrian act was graceful, and received a fair share of applause. One of the features of the performance followed, namely, the acrobatic act of Messrs. Lazelle and Moffitt, who performed a Variety of graceful, and, in cases, novelfeats of tumbling. Nothing could have been more pleasing or better calculated to show to what extent dumb animals may be trained by a careful master than the performances of the pair of Prussian thoroughbred horses introduced by Signor Chiarini. They walked, they danced, they turned inwards apd outwards with the greatest precision at the. slightest motion from their master; in fact, they did almost everything save talk, and one was forcibly struck with the fact that the horse is indeed a: noble animal.. But this performance scarcely excelled, either in beauty or as showing the control that man ' has over, dumb animals, the performances of Mr. Sylvester's troupe of highly-trained dogs, which went through a number of very clever feats, to the delight and amusement of the audience. And here we may remark that the performing animals form the strong feature of the circus, and it is seldom that a finer lot of trained and docile animals are shown in any travelling circus anywhere. The retroequitation act of Mr. Lee, the ground and lofty tumbling of a large humber of acrobats, led by Mr. Gonzales, and the exhibition of mandibular strength given by Mdlle. Lotta, were all good in their way, and helped to make up a varied and pleasing programme. Of the individual performances, however, the most original was undoubtedly that of Miss Lee, who, while standing upon the bare back of a horse in full motion, performed a number of clever juggling feats, for which she was loudly applauded. The:performance of Master Watson on a bare-backed horse was also good. The entertainment concluded with the exhibition of three full-grown Bengal tigers and an equal number of cubs, the latter being, to the amusement of - some and the terror of others, let loose .in the ring. The manner in which Mr. Warner, while in the cage with the full-grown and handsome monsters, made them go through a number of performances, showed great daring on his part and tameness and tractability on the part of the animals. Taken altogether the performance was a really good one, and very few people could have gone away disappointed. Three clowns, took part in the entertainment', and caused a great amount of amusement, though the jokes, were hot very original. An afternoon performance was given to-day, and was exceedingly well patronised, chiefly by children, who were apparently highly delighted. . There will be another performance this evening, commencing at half-past eight o'clock.