Described by various writers in Australia as ‘beautiful’
‘pretty’ ‘ladylike’ and the ‘lady Cinquevalli’, Ma’mselle Florence Rhodesia was
one of the first female jugglers to perform in Australia.
Florrie was born around 1885 in England according to a US
census. This means that she was a bare 15 years old when she came to Australia.
It is, however, entirely possible that Florrie may have ‘fudged’ her age a bit.
She made her debut in the antipodes in 1900, when she toured Australia and New Zealand with Fitzgerald
Brothers Circus. The brothers, Tom, and Dan Fitzgerald, called her Rhoda.
According to an interview she gave in New Zealand, she began
her circus career at 8 years of age as a slack wire walker. When her apprenticeship
ended she toured South Africa with Fillis Brothers and began juggling. Whilst there
she met Cecil Rhodes and acquired the name ‘Rhodesia’. She then returned to England and began
juggling on the variety stages where the brothers Fitzgerald found her and asked
her to tour Australia.
Rhoda toured for several years. Her act
incorporated several skills that Cinquevalli had introduced to the Australian
stage. Florrie turned herself into a billiard table and rolled balls around her
body until they slipped into the pockets of a specially designed coat, she also
did ‘everything Cinquevalli did’. However, most contemporaneous accounts
focused on her looks and ladylike demeanour, with one Australian newspaper saying,
‘the lady is personally very attractive which is a feature unto itself.’ For a
publicity shot in 1902, Rhoda wore male attire, including pants, a suit coat, and a shirt, she also had a top hat by her side. This
costume placed her firmly in the tradition of gentleman juggler and contributed
to her appeal, particularly to male audiences.
Rhoda was well liked by her peers and when she left Australia in 1903 she was farewelled with a cart full of bouquets, the music of the circus orchestra and a gold medal from her employers. They also penned her a note,
Dear Rhoda, as you
are now leaving Australia, we must express our sincere regret at your
departure. You have behaved yourself always in a ladylike and graceful manner
and you leave behind you many true friends and well-wishers. We consider you a
true artist, and a credit to your profession- T and D.
According to a contemporary newspaper, Rhodesia was the only
lady juggler ever seen in ‘these parts’, probably referring to Australia and
New Zealand.
In 1905 Florrie wrote a letter to friends in Sydney
announcing that she had married Mr William Seeley in Capetown South Africa.
Seeley had performed in Australia on the Tivoli circuit as one of a team called
Seeley and West, it is possible that the pair met during Rhoda’s Australasian
tour.
Florrie returned to Australia, as Madame Rhodesia, with her
husband in 1907 and performed at the Tivoli. However, this time her act was not
as widely applauded. One newspaper dismissed her show saying the only unique
part of it was that she was female. Time and imitators had apparently eaten
away at her novelty.
Florence continued to perform with her husband, primarily in
the United States. In 1910, Florence and William settled there.By the late 1920s Florence was the proprietor of an Inn in
Suffolk New York. Genealogical information suggests that she passed away around
1938 in the same area.
For information about present day juggling try Sydney Juggling
