The Sun.
London, England, 1834-07-14 00:00:00

THE LYCEUM THEATRE.

On Saturday night a crowd of visiters were admitted to the
new English Opera Hcuse, or Lyceum Theatre, in the Strand,
to inspect it previous to its being opened this night. Such
has been the rapidity with which its completion has been hur-
ried forward, that it presented on the occasion many of the
symptoms of pre-maturity. The carpenter,painter,and gas-fitter,
were employed on it up to the latest moment ; while much re-
mained to be done in the way of decorative finish to its en-
trances and passages. Interiorly, however, it appears to be
within a day of being quite prepared for the reception of the
public. In regard to its exterior it would be scarcely prudent
to give an opinion as yet, since its design cannot be fairly ap-
preciated while, both in colour and form, it is imperfect. Still
it must be admitted that there is much elegance in its ornate
style of architecture—in its portico and small cupola or lan-
tern. The architect seems to have taken every advantage of
the ground laid at his disposal, as the various arrangements in
respect to passages, stairs, and saloons of ahe building are to
be convenient without being superfluously spacious. The in-
terior of the house presents a very different aspect from that of
any of the metropolitan theatres, at the same time that it is de-
cidedly superior to all the minors in correctness of plan, and
the appropriateness of its decoration. Its shape is as usual of
horse-shoe form, or rather the shoe of the mule, as it is more
eliptical than the former. In this point it resembles the
King's Theatre more than any other theatre in London.
In the arrangement of its boxes it displays an architectu-
ral consistency which we cannot but admire. Thus from
the pannelling of the dress circle, as from plinths, spring
six tall light Corinthian white columns, fluted and gilt, and
with gilt capitals, which arc carried up to the line of the second
box circle, or the gallery (the only gallery) row, the front
of which is formed of their cornice and a delicate ballus-
trade. The first or middle circle of boxes is not, therefore,
properly.speaking, part of the architectural plan of the house,
but it is seemingly apart from the pillars, or only connected
with them by a crimson festooned drapery, represented in
handsome French paper, which passes from the centre of one
pillar to the other. We have said six pillars, but in addition
to these are others, on each side, supporting stage boxes, at
the turn of the shoe. In Drury-lane there is a similar arrange-
ment ; but there the stage box pillars are but two single pil-
lars, of large proportions, on each side, while they here stand
in slender pairs. By the bye, we may remark that the manner
in which the cornice, to which we have alluded, is carried over
these pillars without any architectural break, but something of
a twist, is a blemish in the design of Mr. Beazley. The bal-
cony, of which we had heard so much, is also, we must say,
injudiciously introduced into the plan. It is an incongruity—
being carried out from, and, of course, completely concealing
the whole pannel line of the dress circle, with the exception of
one intercolumniation at each side next the stage boxes. The
gilt-metal work of this protrusion we admire for its light effect,
but it might have been used in the legitimate line of the dress
circle, leaving solid plinths for the pillars. It certainly would
have been preferable to the dull, neutral-coloured mock relievo,
which is painted on the pannel of the reserved intercolumnia-
tions. The balcony also hinders the persons in the boxes be-
hind from being well seen, and thus interferes with the gay
appearance of the dress circle. _

-We should say that it is a blemish also to have the back of
the dress circle a blue striped paper, while the back of the
first circle is of a fine rose pink. The latter is a beautiful
colour and should be common to both circles, and also be car-
ried into their ceilings, as it would thus take away a motley
character from them, and also set off their company to more
advantage. The single gallery is very conveniently laid out
as well as the adjoining second- box circle. The roof is car-
ried boldly over both, is circular, divided into compartments,
and elaborately but elegantly ornamented with Arabesque
painting, than which no style of decoration is more suitable
to a theatre. A large chandelier hangs from the centre of the
roof, and is intended to light the whole house. It is to be,
we believe, a handsome thing, but as it was not finished on
Saturday night we could not judge of its merits. The
stage is wide, and the proscenium springs high over it with a
bold arch, the section of a circle. In form the latter is of
simplest, indeed of too simple, appearance, but it is neatly
painted in Arabesque. At its apex are raised the Royal arms.
With the blemishes that we have alluded to, and some others
of minor consequence, the whole appearance of the house is
yet light and elegant, while in general its accommodation is
excellent. The entrance to the boxes from the portico is spa-
cious, and the double stairs leading to the first circle, somewhat