AMUSEMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 248, 25 February 1911, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

WORTHS' CIRCUS. Taranaki people always rally in large numbers around the tent poles of Wirths' famous circus, and last night saw a packed marque to testify that the circus still holds the public in a grip that does not lessen with time. Wirth Bros' Circus is strong in horse and equestrian performers, there is a capital menagerie, including seven elephants, a huge hippopotamus, lions, tigers, leopards, monkeys, wolves, and a fine old brown bear of huge dimensions. The animals arc in perfect health and splendidly conditioned. Lizzie, the hippopotamus, is a menagerie on her own, and everyone was interested in this ponderous mammal. The, "ssar" specialty turn is that supplied by the Fran fa Troupe (six in number) of grqund and lofty tumblers, who are particularly agile and daring in their whirling act. They specialise in head-to-head balancing. Two of the ladies, besides being excellent acrobats, are decidedly strong women. One of them carries two men and a woman about with case and grace. The principal animal acts are conducted under the superintendence of Herr Rudolf and Mona. Marco in a caged area. There the lion literally lies down with the lamb, and the brown bear (which,, in walking, has a .strange resemblance to the modern young lady in the hobble skirt) gambols with the goat. Two lions see-saw with an intelligent dog as centre man. and the tigers pose with grace under perfect control. In another animal act a lion, pony, goat, and dog are concerned, and go through a variety of tricks under the eye-of Herr Rudolph. Miss Stella Martin, a shapely young lady of talent, is perhaps the most frequent and welcome performer. She drives eight ponies from a standing posiition with as much facility as one would handle a single pair of reins from the comfortable seat of a dog-cart; she does a clever trapeze act, and caps her work by an especially daring somersault act on horseback. The Tossing Tcstros, who are not new to New Zealand, did a variety of clever juggling and balancing tricks, including some plate-spinning and smart juggling with billiard cues" and balls. The Lentons specialise in hatthrowing and catching, in which they are wonderfully adept. A team of six ponderous elephants showed remarkable intelligence in, the few minutes they were before the public. They waltzed,'jigged, bowed, posed, and even sang at the word of command. A serpentine dance on horseback was supplied bv Miss Stella Martin, who followed it lip by making an aerial flight, both daring and pretty to witness. Miss Millie Dagmar introduced a team of trained dogs, who do all manner of things not included in tho usual category of canine tricks. As a grand finale, the dogs climb a 23ft. ladder, and dire into a sheet most comically. The show concluded with an exhibition of handcuff and manacle evasion by Raymond the Great, who had no difficulty m releasing himself from a board to which he was apparently securely lashed, and afterwards in getting clear of a variety of handcuffs and manacles. There was also an exhibition of high jumping by some crack jumpers The clown is there with jokes, ancient and modern, but even the most matured jokes raised hearty laughter last evening.

This afternoon a matinee performance will be given, when school children will he admitted nt half-price to all parts All youngsters should witness the. m«naserie, if only for its highly instructive value. Tn-night concludes the season, and we venture the opinion that the tent will' again he packed.

BIOGRAPH PICTURES TO-NIGHT. To-night the most sensational picture drama of the series is "The Chink of (.olden Gulch," a magnificent film. "The Acrobat's Son" is another fine drama, and there arc two others. Three remarkably clear and interesting scenic films are advertised and there is the mutf round of laugh-producing pictures, in ■ wlijcli -Foolshead" figures as »' fo o £ bailer. Prices are l/«, l/ v a^^V^';