Hengler's Circus, Glasgow

This was the date that the performance was licensed for but the production appears to have premiered later.

Performed every Wednesday and Saturday until May 1915. The cast included: Hannerford Family, Miss Silvani, John Yelding, Mdlle. Rancy with her sagacious dogs, Captain Pinder with his ponies and elephant, The Jees, The Poppescus, Doodles and Pimple, and Les Alosianis. ''Very Soft' is one of the most ingenious and amusing spectacles that Mr. Albert Hengler has produced. The setting of the little comedy is delightful, especially the village scene, which very realistically suggests rural charm and simplicity. The martial note is vigorously sounded, and the story reaches a sensational climax with a cloudburst, water gushes in roaring cataract reducing to ruins the fair village, and there are exciting scenes in the arena, where men, women and horses struggle in the water. The spectacle alone would give distinction to the current program at Hengler’s, but in addition a variety entertainment for first-rate quality is provided. It is exceptionally strong in equestrianism, one of the remarkable acts being performed by the Hannerford Family, which is as clever and daring a performance as has been witnessed in a circus arena. In the same line Miss Silvani and Mr. John Yelding are conspicuous. Wonderful displays of animal training are given by Mdlle. Rancy, with her sagacious dogs, and by Captain Pinder with his ponies and elephant; while there are admirable acrobatic performances the the Jees and The Poppescus. A circus show would be incomplete without clowning, and of that there is a sufficiency. The jesters are the old favourites, Doodles and Pimple. They are seldom absent from the area, and their antics and funny sayings set the house in a roar. The amusing pair appear also in interlude 'The Animated Statue,' which may be described as one long laugh. Further variety is given to the programme by the musical experts, Les Alosianis.' (The World's Fair, 12 December 1914)

The Cossack was billed as a 'white spectacle in six scenes' set on the Russian border in 1915 and containing 'a traitorous major and his German wife; a brave dispatch rider, who foils the plotters; [and] a peasant mother parting with her two younger sons to fight for our little father the Czar.' For comic relief 'Doodles' masquerades as a war corrispondant who travels all the way from 'Gleska' to imbed himself with the Russian army and after a series of comic adventures dies for his adopted country. The final 'sauve qui peut,' sees the horses and cast plunge into the river of ice. ('Daily Record' 20 November 1916) Other acts in the same bill included: Miss Cashmore's Great Sporting act, the Hanlon Family Gymnasts, the Motor Cycling Sealions, the Mizuno Troupe Japanses entertainers, and Hiawatha the educated Chimpanzee