WIRTH'S CIRCUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 70

WIRTH'S CIRCUS.

The rolling seasons bring round many (things, and many would now deem it an omission on their part did they not bring ittie circus. The Southern Oval was on Saturiday evening a centre of wide attraction and activity, and once more the scene of operations for Messrs "Wirth Bros.' big circus organisation. The fascination of the circus iing, with its many curious and distinctive associations, survives all vicissitudes with wond«rful vigour, which is not surprising, for a circus performance is like quite nothing else tinder the sun. It caters to the mature, and is to the small boy as a veritable glimpse of an enchanted world, and the source of his fearful acquaintance with many accomplished "beasts. At the opening performance at the Oval on Saturday night a huge audience (taxed the seating accommodation of the great lient to the utmost, and its verdict was most complimentary to the attractiveness of the varied entertainment provided. But Wirth !Broß.' circus needs no introduction here, having long been favourably known to the public, and it will suffice to say in general that it qoaintaing ita repute and continues to be raoeof th« most up-to-date and comprehensive piows of its kind. The programme is thrc-ugh-K>vt of exceptional interest, and so many are *he items comprised in it, and in such quick ftucoession do they follow that there is no ■fcime for the attention to flag or for a dull moment. The audience indeed appreciated .very highly the excellence of the management that ran so long a programme- of events tthrough with such smooth celerity and without hitch of any sort, and it also appreciated ■thoroughly the quality of the assorted fare (provided, glad to renew acquaintance with ,>»h*t it had seen before and to greet with discrimination what was new. The circus company includes, as of yore, many clever 'artists and performers, human and animal, quite a number of them old friends in the iring, but not a whit the less welcome on Ithat account. The menagerie section has been strengthened materially since last visit, ..nd "the collection of elephants, lions, tigers, camels, and other animals is now a very fine one indeed. Features of Saturday night's programme, unsurpassed in their way in local experience, included two specially good ftninral performances. In. the first half a dozen trained elephants, two of them beasts of great size, went through numerous evolutions, and concluded a display of their accomplishments by a most effective tableau. 3n the second a regular menagerie of animals, (including half a dozen lions and a bear, contributed an interesting and 1 exciting periformance under the able control of Heir flatty, who lent them his company within heir enclosure of iron bars. Several other animal feats were also witnessed. In acrobatic artists the company is very strong. In ithis department, of course, nothing approaches itho sensational aerial act contributed by the clever Flying Herberts, which exerts all its former fascination on the public, and is «agerly anticipated; but Osado, Japanese 'balancer and contortionist, and Little May Martin, "the flexible marvel," both do astonishing feats, while nothing more clever bf ite kind could be desired than the so-called ißisley act, in which on© Tomaso inverted on a high staging, manipulates with his toes a barrel and then a table. Tomaso|s very finished and curious performance elicited, as $t deserved, special applause. As a tumbler Mar J. Keller i 3 nothing short of a champion, and he took part in a clever and amusing act. Biding is another strong feature of the progrnmiae, and in tills department the follldiAntQy clever horsemanship of Miss PhilJipina, which included a somersault on horseIbfcck, was particularly popular. The Ozzapardi trio contributed a clever and 1 amusing equestrian acrobatic act with the aid of two horses and a dog-cart ; the Christies, a quartet of clever juveniles, gave an attractive exhibition of pony riding; a gaily attired troupe, splendidly mounted, went through intricate equestrian evolutions with excellent spectacular effect, and Miss Marzilles iWirth reappeared in clever juggling on horsefcack. The procession round the hippodrome track, with which the performance opened, wfta an unquestionably impressive spectacle. Major, the dancing horse, made an excellent display of his accomplishments, and a high2 limping competition between champion poises brought a lengthy programme to a close within three hours of its commenceToent. It is hardly necessary to add that (hat hardy plant, circus humour, has not ween neglected, and there are clowns _ and t' dummies" galore to provoke the audience iso hilarity, while the circus baud sets a imerry pace and keeps it.

The Christchurch Fire Brigade was holding 1 its annual dinner when the alarm was yiven on the night of the big fire, ana pad jufrt got through the serious business of the evening. The informal business was 'done, and the brigade then settled down to toasts and song 3 until At «M rudely interrupted.