"GOING, GOING-!"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1918, 28 November 1913, Page 5

"GOING, GOING-!"

THE OLD THEATRE ROYAL. The old Theatre Royal in Johnston Street, the homo of jest and song for nearly 40 years, is being rapidly, demolished by the contractors, Messrs. W. 11. Edwards and Son. Tlie theatre has already been "decapitated"—that is to say that stage, where wit and wisdom, arrayed in motley, hold their court, has all but disappeared, leaving tho gloomy sweep of the auditorium exposed to wind and weather. It matters not. To-morrow or i:ext week it must all tumble into the dreamless dust, or take- other forms in remote suburbs. Will the users of these honoured timbers be wakened at the witching hour by the ghost-voices of Harkins, Sheridan, Hoskins, Boucicault, and all tho mighty ones who strode tho boards? Who knows?

Tlie theatre was erected forty years ago by Mr. James Lockie from tlie plans of Mr. Toxward for the Public Hall Company, and was accounted in its day a very splendid 'hall of Thcspis. But ideas change. No one would dream of planning a theatre on tho lines of the old Royal. Tho floor of the auditorium has a rake from tlie orchestra well to the back of the theatre of from six to eight foot, while to-day, only two or thrco feet aro allowed in the auditorium Door, and about two feet in the case of tho stage, which, of course, is raked in the reverse wa-- from that of the main floor. Persons sitting on the side of tho dress circle could, without sitting forward and cranine the neck, onlv see a little moro "ban half tho stage, which would not bo tolerated by an audience nowaday.-;.

Mr. Edwards, inn., states that on the whole the timbers of the old theatre are in an excellent stato of preservation. It mostly consists of riiiiu. cut evidently from good big trees, as there is precious little "sap" . amongst it. Most of it is as sound as a bell, particularly - tho flooring, which lias stood the tost of time without showing tho least signs of decay. It was interesting to discover that part of the roof principle was a groat 12ft. by 3in. Oregon beam, with a stretch of 55ft.—two lengths bolted together in tlio 'centre —which is as sound to-day, as far as the oye can see. as when it was nlaced in position forty years ago. This lengtli of Oregon pine is believed to be part of ouo of the first cargoes of that timber brought to Wellington. Its excellent condition is tho best of proof that indoors at any rate Oregon has tho attribute- r'f longevity.