THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 150, 1 December 1914, Page 6

THE THEATRE ROYAL.

EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS. "The Theatre 'Royal will, -when the alterations and improvements are fully completed, compare favorably with any theatre of the kind in New Zealand or Australia." This is the opinion of Mr H. E. White, the Australasian theatre architect and engineer, under whose direction the local theatre for some ten or twelve weeks past has been undergoing extensive alterations. The building is one which does credit to the engineers, the town and the owners, and should fulfil the requirements of tlw town for some time to coine. The building has been improved from the foundations to the roof, the architect having a free hand in the matter of expense in converting it into a serviceable and comfortable place of entertainment. That ho could have made sucli an excellent job from the material he had to work on could scarcely have been anticipated by any who saw the improvements for themselves last night. The place lias been completely transformed, and can now be classed as a very fine convenient and comfortable theatre. The entrance to the dress circle and tlie stalls consists of a commodious set of doors, folding up like a concertina, some fifteen feet wide, opening on to a ten foot staircase with brass handrails down the centre, and carpet runners on each side. The ticket box stands on the left. Ascending the stairs one comes to a neat little landing ornamented by a beautiful fern, concealing the existence of a "grid" ventilator. On the column supporting the electric light stands a very pretty statuette of Venus partially undraped. The stairs divide on the landing, leading into two wide flights to the foyer, or lounge hall, wliicli is quite sixty feet by twenty in extent, with chairs and seats scattered about for the convenience of people during the intervals. Ladies' and gentlemen's eloak rooms, comfortably fitted up, and a manager's room are on the left hand side facing the street. At the other end of the lobby is a refreshment stall, where coffee, soft drinks, and confectionery are to be on sale. The floor of the lobby is covered With a beautifully-patterned carpet, red being the prevailing color, in sympathy with the color scheme of red and white employed throughout the theatre. The improvements in the, dress circle are noticeable. A wall runs alofag the back, there being now none of the draughts that formerly affected many ipatrons.. The seating accommodation has also been increased. The balustrading around the circle lias .been re-uphol-steral, red plnsh being used, thus removing a frequent cause of complaint.

From the foot of the main entrance stairway, a lofty passage about thirteen feet wide, known art tlie "crusli lobby,'' leads along the right side of the ball to the stalls, obviating the necessity for using the Egmont street entrance. Opening off the passage is a confectionery stall. The stalls are much the same as before, but the old forms are to lie replaced by collapsible seats, which .will run right back to the pit. The seats are in the building, but are not yet fitted. The stage looks much better witli a delicately white painted proscenium replacing the old Shakespeare mask. Mr K. AY. White says: ''One essential to the successful building of a theatre is a clear vision line from any Beat in the anditorium." Ths has been attained by an alteration of the flooring. From the door to about half way down the auditorium, the floor has been rebuilt

with a gradual incline, the occupants of the pit seats having as goOd a view, if not just as comfortable, as the persons in the stalls or in the circle.

Another improvement is the removal of the ancient biograph box. This has been set back in a room under the staircase, whence its rays peep through holes in the wall. Alongside is a coat room for the convenience of occupants of the stalls.

The foundations of the theatre have been given considerable attention. Every pile and piece of timber has been thoroughly overhauled, all unsound timber being removed, and concrete blocks placed under nearly every pile. The weathel side has been boarded up, and an efficient system of drainage introduced. Great attention lias been paid to the fire escapes. It is now possible for a crowded audience to be cleared in three minutes, if emergency should arise. In this respect, it is on a par with the most up-to-date theatres in Australasia.

The ventilation of the building is one of the most important features pf any tßeatre and one in which the old building was hardly adequate. A huge ventilator opens into the theatre close to the biograpli box, ensuring a pure current of air direct from the street. This passes above to the grid ventilator on the landing, and is distributed thence through the upper part of the hall

The electric light installation is a feature. It includes an enormous light at the entrance, a half watt, of 1500 c.p. The crush lobby is illuminated by a cluster of four lights of an aggregate of 200 c.p. The dress circle lounge and entrance are lighted by five pedestal lamps, with red silk shades, four on newels, whilst on the staircase a three light spray is supported by the statuette Mr White makes a specialty of jacoustics in connection with theatre work, and he has certainly improved the acoustics of the Theatre Royal by the removal of the cumbrous iron rods upholding the dress circle, which is now supported by pillar stands of adequate strength. The altered theatre is a decided improvement to the town, and that the enterprise of the company, in spending the large sum the work necessarily entailed, -will be adequately rewarded there can be no two opinions. OTic improvements should pay from the start, j and, what is equally as important, give townspeople a pride in the building they could hardly be expected to feel with the theatre in its former condition.