GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 3

GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

NO.CHRISTMAS OPENING. TROUBLE ABOUT A BONUS. THE INTERIOR DECORATIONS. To the lay eye the new Grand Opera House in Manners , Street would seem to bo within a few weeks of completion, and there appears to bo nothing to prevent the new theatre—tho interior of which promises to be a dream of beauty —being opened by Christmas, as lias been announced from time to time. Circumstances, however, have arisen which 'will in all probability prevent the theatre being opened.on Boxing Night as contemplated—indeed, things havo gone so far now that Mr. Liddy, supervising architect for tho Hon. Win, Pitt stated yesterday that the "Grand could not now bo opened by that date. Unusual circumstances have, it seems, led to a deadlock between the Wellington Opera Houso Company and the contractors, Messrs. Sanders Bros. Under their contract the latter firm bound , itself to conclude the erection of the structure by the end of April next, but. as they were able to push on with tho work at a. good rate it was seen some time ago that the theatre tould easily be finished iii time to open at Christmas. Tho contractors agreed that their work could be completed by the end of the year, but wished to know how they were to be compensated for handing over tho building four months ahead! of the contract' time. Tho directors o'f the Opera House Company demurred at paying anything in the way of a bonus for tho expedition shdwn by tho contractors, but/it is understood, did offer an amount in settlement of the, dispute, which was rejected by tho contractors. Messrs. Sanders Bros, then mado an offer to the company to complete the contract in time for opening on Boxing Night, but this was rejected in very definite terms. Tho position now is that Messrs. Sanders Bros, will remain "in possession," doing the last of the finishing work, until April next, if sonie other arrangement is not mado to spur them to a finish. Although scaffolding still rises from the floor to the dome of the auditorium (where tho decorator, Mr. Gco. Coulter, is.at work) a very good idea of the appearance of the theatre can be obtained. There is no question but that AVellington will have in the Grand Opera House one of the most beautiful j and commodious theatres in Australasia. It is to begin with a theatre of magnificent proportions. The front elevation is without any architectural character—it is flat and featureless. But, if expenditure has been saved there, it has been lavished on the interior decorative scheme. Thero are two tiers in the auditorium, which will seat 2100 people when full. The wooden platforms for the dress circle seats show plenty of space between the lows, and in the stalls , there will be a good deal more space between the rows of seats than in tee present Opera House. • So far the floors of the auditorium (and the stage) have: been laid, but'the seats have-not been placed in position. These are' to be iron standards with wooden backs, richly upholstered in English electric blue velvet. The orchestra stall seats are to have an oval pad back, and the dress circle a square, full-length upholstered back. Both styles of seats aro extremely comfortable. After all, what qatches the eye first is the general scheme of decoration. This consists of beautifully-mod-elled fibrous plaster work,.in heavy" relief, all round tho balustrades of tho galleries and boxes, but instead of being loft dead white, tho whole scheme is assembled 'into a combination of exquisitely beautiful tones, giving an impression of pale old gold. This harmonious effect is achieved by a combination of light leather brown (the groundwork), pale lemon (tho raised work), , and gilt (tips and ridges). As a further enrichment there are panels of pale blue framed in gold on tho coilings of. the gallieries. Tho boxes are heavily decorated, • and almost ' semicanopied with plaster ornamentatiou, and the proscenium presents the appearance of burnished gold in a' beautifuldesign) Higher still, Mr. George Colli-; ter has suspended in the blue ether of; the, dome a band of extremely pink and chubby cherubs, and some really well-: painted bunches of roses. Mr. Coulter's facile,brush is also in evidence in some delicately-toned floral work on the boxes and proscenium, and, in the foyer, the large and handsomely-decorated loungerc;cm at the head of the. stairs leading to the entrance of the dress circle. The stage is large enough for any style' of production. There is an opening in the proscenium of 30ft. 6in. The hardwood fly-galleries are 27ft., and the gridiron p"6ft. from the stags floor. The' sliding roof and ceiling to tho auditorium is simply worked by the turning of two large wheels from the prompt flygallery. ,' Tho fireproof curtain and act drop will 'hi worked from the o.p. side. At tho rear of the stage and divided from the main part of the the-, atre. by a stout brick wall and iron doors is a large and well-lighted paint room, fitted with two full size paintframes (on a level with tho fly-ealleries), and a commodious scene dock below. The dressing-rooms can also be cut off from the main_ building by shutting a eoupje of small iron doors on the different floors. These are placed on tlhe eastern side of tho building, and have exits on to *-be right-of-way on that side of the theatre. There are four dressing-rooms on the stage level (medium in size, but light and airy, and each provided with twos set wash-hand basms and taps), five on the first floor (one very large), and three commodious rooms on the second floor. The theatre is well furnished with exits and firo appliances, and should prove a cheerful and very beautiful shrine for the/worship of the I goddess Thalia in Wellington.