The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-19
THREE JUGGLERS.
A Trio of SliGht-of-Hand Performers--Some
of Their Marvellous Tricks.


London Saturday Review
The admirers of the art of jugglery may now
see in London three very remarkable performers
-Trewey, at the Alhambra; Paul Cinquevalli
| and Katsnoschn Awata, at the London Pavilion.
Trewey is apparently German. although he
| may be Frenchman; Paul Cnquevalli is ap-
parently an Italian although he may be an
Englishman, and Katsnoschin Awata is indis-
| putably Japanese They are all three jUgglers
of very unusual skill; they quite unlike
another IN method and manner and they have
each lis own point of excellence. OF the three.
| Paul Cinquevalli. is the most original and
| inventive. So novel are many Of his feats that
! we do not hesitate to say that he stands on the
| brink of a discovery. The art of jugglery is
ready for some one to renovate it, to reform it.
| to make new departure, as Robert Houdin did
when he reinvented the modern art Of conjuring.
If Paul Cinquevalli can work with his head as
he works with his hands, he may discover the
new jugglery as Robert Houdin discovered the
new conjuring. Robert Houdin's great reform
was the abolition of apparatus, of the gittering
display Of resplendent metal instruments which
decorated the stage, and which the old conjurors
called pallas Robert Houdin discarded heavily
draped tables, and, as far possible. he wrought
his wonders with simple objects borrowed from
the audience.
Paul Cinquevalli's best feats are exactly in line
with this reform of Robert Houdns Instead of
juggling with the three knives which most per-
formers have used hitherto. be takes the knife
and fork of commerce and the common or garden
potato, and he juggles with these. The feats
Paul Cinquevali accomplishes with the knife,
fork and potato are novel as they are extraor-
binary. He losses the three in the air from hand
to hand, the potato on the prongs OF the fork,
| and the knife perpendicular its point in the
potato. Again, he throws knife, fork and potato
In the air. cutting the potato in two by swift
stroke of the knife and catching the halves. one
the fork in the left hand and the other on the
point Of the knife in the right. This is the very
triumph of the skillful use of common
| vrAt IL
extraordinary is Paul Cinquevallis Juggling
with cannon ball, a china plate and All egg,
after which he first throws the egg fifteen feet
in the air, catching IL OH the plate without
breaking the egg, and then he throws the can
non ball in the air, catching it the plate with
| out breaking the plate. These marvellous feats
are all done without strain effort and with the
| utmost ease and certainty. And with the same
assured calmness does he accomplish what is per-
haps his most astonishing effect-although it is
! not as novel or snowy as these we have already
mentioned This is the juggling with a cannon
ball, transparent glass bottle and little bit of
paper torn off and rolled up in sight of the spec
tator. The enormous disparity of weight, size
| an shape existing between these three objects
makes the throwing of them from hand to
hand with unerring certainty a most difficult
| task.
We have placed Paul Cinquevali first of the
three remarkable juggers now performing in
London. because he is the most ingenious and
inventive. But he lacks certain qualities which
| both of his rivals possess He lacks style. for
one thing. In juggling, style is the final polish,
the indescrbe something which doubles the
value of all that has been accomplished; Kats-
noschin Awata has style-was there ever q
Japanese without it!-and Trewey has style;
and Paul CinQuevalli has it not or has it at
| least in far less degree In the display of APP
! paratus there is still recollection of the old
| pallas Of the country conjuror. He INDUCES in
needless fourshes; and restlessness always
mars the calm simplicity which is the mark of
the highest art Robert Houdin records the
disapproval Torrini expressed when he began q
card trick with a series of brilliant
f1ourishes not pertinent to the object aimed
at. and merely illustrative of tho performers
dexterity Paul Cnquevalli does little side
effects in odd moments. thus detracting from
the main effects which they follow or precede.
But the chief mistake he makes is in his cos
tune, which is that of an ordinary acrobat. The
gymnasts dress is needed only for the gymnast's
work, and too strong an admixture of gymnastics
into a display of jugglery mars the objects of
feats Of skill For juggler the dress of the
acrobat lacks dignity. The Japanese here asin
other things, is we'll served by the garb of his
race, the graceful, lowered robes of Japan
Trewey is better advised than Paul Cinquevalli
in tho choice of a costume and he wears q dark
dress not unlike that of a court physician in the
last century. This costume leaves his arms and
legs free and unimpeded and yet has a dignity
wanting in the spangled tights of the acrobat
Ha Wautod Traaa