A PALATIAL THEATER

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1990, 21 February 1914, Page 3

A PALATIAL THEATER

NEW GUmt> OPERA HOUSE. Tl w dinecters of ' tho Wellington Opera House Company ami a few of tiinif friends were afforded an opportunity or lnepectiiig the w ewmd Upcra Uou-so m Manners Street last when'the new thwitro was niily hglited for the first. time. . The theatre >$~a positive rewk-tiou-m-nlav-hoiise limiry, both for tho: public and the players, and is without doubt flie finest.theatre in Australasia at the present time, It seats 2000 people, and a perfect riew of the stage is -obtainable trom every seat. Those present, last night wssro privileged to inspect the whole of tli-o the-at-rp, trom the seene-dock and .paintframe at the rear to tlie-beautifully do* corateel foyer and diess,iß.c;-r<3OMs' in front. colotir s&mo~, developed from a baste combinatiaM oi electrie blue and okl gold, was greatly adniired, and the up-to-date lighting "equipment of both' stage nml audrtoriuai was explained and ilkstrated. No fewer than 2SOO electric lajnps are empteyed m lighting the theatre, of which nfcml.jw ov-er 1000 are employed on the stage, including footlights, six border rows, and six bunch lights, all of which are operated .upon with dimmers, with which tJte most delicate lighting effects wsll be obtainable. The new Grand Opera House was pla«)2d for tins Wellington Opera House Company, by the Hon. \V: Pitt, of Melbourne, awl was erested by Messrs. Saiiders Bros

A verj'_ beautiful act-drop, depicting the fatniliar α-n the Wan-gs-nwi S-iver, has ' been painted for the tfea.tre b-y Mr. Bevdn, an EngKslj scento artist of repute, graining in this sctijie is a- deft imitation of Maori carviiTg, and Native scroll work painted in mimicry in the primitive, vfigetahlo colours •used by the Natives. Ae scenft is nicely toned' in -subdued tints—nothing is .garjsh or artistically unseemly, which is a- novelty in aet-droj>s. Auother capital, airf, sads to relate, ofieu neglected feattire, is the dressittg-room aecoiiti-nodatioJi, which 'is cafiTeijiettt as to position and apmle in space for tho largest companies likely to visit Wellington for many years te come. Tho decorative work of Mr. Geo, Coulter, -of Sydney, is ft bfi.Uia.nt fea* turCj and tho electrical equipment, was installed b,? Messrs. K. Y, Walls a.ticl Co., -of Wellington. Mr. Liddy (acting for tho Hon, Mr. Pitt) was tho stiper* vising flrcliitcot. A more detailed description of the new theatre will appear later.