FILLIS’ CIRCUS AND MENAGERIE.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 37, 9 December 1893, Page 9

FILLIS’ CIRCUS AND MENAGERIE.

It doesn’t take long to write the heading to this article, but it would occupy far morespace than we can possibly spare to detail the attractions of Fillis’ renowned circus and menagerie, which came over in Thursday’ssteamer from Hobart. The necessity of doing anything of the kind is, however, obviated by the fact that this is the second visit of the company, so that our readers know all about them. Their previous performances delighted thousands of town and country folks. Since then they have been winning fresh laurels in Australia, and draw* ing, despite hard times, crowded marquees. Mr Fillis has deservedly won a high reputation, but he is not one of those who trust to that to pull him through. He believes in having everything of the best in his profession and everything up to date. In proof of this it is only necessary to say that, instead of turning up here again with the same old show, he has added to it in several directions* so that now the programmes to be submitted are simply crammed full of attractive features. It is, in fact, a new entertainment under the old name. The company, good before, is now exceedingly strong in all the elements that charm and delight the public,. The Parisian lady gymnasts, Lazel and Alexandra, are veritable queens of the air, and tosee one of them shot from a cannon and. caught in mid-air by her companion ought tosatisfy the greatest lover of the sensational.. Some wonderfully clever acrobatic work is alsodone, and the studies of classical statuary by the Mayol troupe are exceedingly pretty. Then, as our readers know, there are brilliant exhibitions of riding, including performances by that master and mistress of the art, Mr F. E. Fillis and Mdme. Fillis; unique doingaby trained horses and ponies, and here it should be mentioned that the former include the five horses bought by Mr Fillis in New Zealand during his last tour, and which he has since trained to acquit themselves most creditably in the arena. One of the number is the celebrated racer* Yictory. We have only a line or two left for the elephants, monkeys, lions, tigers, and bears, but they will bulk largely in the programme, and will, as of yore, furnish no end of mingled fun and sensation for the patrons of the circus. Alto--gether, the combination as now constituted, costs about 50 per cent, more per week to run than formerly, but for all that there will be no advance in prices, and Mr Fillis has somuch confidence in the public of New Zealand, that he is sanguine as to the success of his venture. There will be a big street parade at 2.30 this afternoon, and the first regular entertain*ment at night. Others will follow on Mon* day, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings, and with late trains and cheap fares, our visitors may look forward to good business.