Woodward's Japanese Troupe.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4944, 13 November 1884, Page 2

Woodward's Japanese Troupe.

This really clever company opened a season on the Thames at the Academy of Music last night, before a fair house, ihe pit being crowded. The performance consists chiefly of marvellous balancing and acrobatic feats, interspersed with some good negro songs and dances, and is altogether by far the best exhibition of the kind that has visited the Thames for years, if indeed it has ever been excelled. The Japanese performers and tumblers in Woodyear's Circus caused pongideraWe surprise by tbejr dexterity, but they must yield tiie palm, to tho^p

who are now occupying the boards j of the Academy. The music, supplied by a harp, violin, and flute, is also a very pleasing feature, and to-night a harp solo, which is sure to prove a treat, will be given by Mr Carter. The performance commenced with some exceedingly clever balancing of a barrel on his feet by Prince j Bungaro, whose son, Kitchie, got inside, and was twirled like a teetotum, greatly to the amusement of the public. Kitchie then stood on bis head on the tub, which was suddenly jerked away and himself caught by the shoulders on BuDgnro's feet; another jerk, and Kitehie's position was reversed, amidst loud applause. Mr Matthews next introduced a negro 9ong and some high kicking, he literally scratching his ear with his toe. Then Gumbo Lingar made his appearance in some marvellous contortion and tumbling acts, for which he was enthusiastically applauded. He seemed to be literally made of indiarubber, and every act was done most gracefully, apparently without any effort. After an interval Prince Buogaro gave another skilful exhibition of balancing on his feet, the object manipulated this time being a large screen in the shape of a window, up which Kilchie (who is n,o light weight) climbed, twining himself in and out, standing on his head on top, and finally hanging by one foot from the top corner and raising his body to a horizontal position. This difficult feat fairly brought down the house. Messrs Matthews and Delahanty (in male and female characters) next gave a laughable negro song and dance, which was encored, and some more clever balancing was introduced by Bungaro, followed by an amusing pantomine by Kitchie and Master Grenell. Then Bungaro appeared once more, and after twirling a tub at least 6 feet broad with his feet, balanced it while Kitchie mounted it and stood on top, when his head and shoulders became invisible above the stage. After this came lightning tumbling feats by the whole company, in which for strength and grace of motion Master Grenell, and Woodward, Lingar, and Kitchie especially shone, the whole enter* tainment concluding with a farce, which sent the audience home in good humor. We can confidently recommend our readers to pay the troupe a visit, as they may have to travel a long way before seeing the equal of the performance for dexterity, grace, and strength.