Star.
London, England, 1817-09-06 00:00:00

bhuhr-L.AX THEAtkk

A very nurherous company lit'st night assemble
to view the altes.ni: ns that have been made, during
the recess, in. the int Prior of this edifice. The stag!
is now completely ;11uminated with gas, the eifect of
which is exceedingly hiiiliant. By turning a cock,
the flame can he contracted or increased, in a mo:
meta, as the nature of the scene calls for the mild and
silvery tints of twilight, or the splendid effulgence of
noon day. The variation in the degree of light, in
the front of the stage, and at the wings, is simulta-
neous. This is a considerable iMpiovement—for,
when the c,lti plan was acted on, it frequently hap-
pened, that the front of the stage was dark, whilst a
great portion of light ;vas emitted Irom the lamps at-
tached to the wings, so that night end day were at
tit,. same time exhibited.

The prevailing colour of the House is pink, re-
lieved, in the bores, by a slight azure boreering,
which, near the stage, assumes a more decii/ed cha-
racter. The general effect is, rerhaps, toe glaring ;
but, we understand, it was suggested to t' e Commit-
tee, that the light blue, in which the backs f the
boxes were formerly paitited, threw a st, ki . hue
over the countenances of the elsganies who tr. cite :toed
them, and it was therefcre determined to it.- uce
a wanner and more vivid colour. The prosernisan,
we think, mould be much beautified, if the keyal
Arms were brought forward from the shade in which
they are now placed, and rendered a more prominent
and splendid object.
The saloon is entirely changed. Indepeti4ent of
the ordinary entrances from the great stair-se. a t*o
new flights of stairs, one at each extreni ty :4 the
room, has been constructed for the conveieenee of
the half-price visitors, who will, in future, be suffered
!to assetnule in the saloon, instead of week?, use ar.
rival of the hour of admission, in the great hall.—
The style of Chinese decoration (in compliment, we
suppose, to Lord Autreerr), is preserved, as far as
possible, throughout the saloon, if, subdivided as it
is, it can be so designated with propriety. The ca-
pitals of the two pillars, which support the entrance
to the recesses where refreshments are exposed for
sale, at each end of the apertmlut, have been re-
moved —and, in their place, enormous dragons, the
„great symbol of the Chinese empire, have been intro-
duced. Over the two new staircases, it fanciful sort
of canopy, not unlike the expanded sticks of an um•
breila, ornamented with bells, is suspended. In the
body of the saloon three octagon pagodas are erec-
ted. Their spiral tops almost reach the roof of the
building. Four sides of the octagon admit the en-
trance of company, and the tem:ening four are fur-
nished with seats for the accommodation of Inougers.
E •ch pagoda is lighted by 17 lanterns, formed, we
belies., of fine lawn, and painted with a variety of de-
vices. Cram the sides of the apartment lanterns of
a similar description are also saspended. The prome-
nade, which is extremely narrow, is, of course, con-
tined to the space around and bete een the pagodas.
The general appearance of the saloon is dull and
heavy. The Chinese lanterns afford '• a little (loo-
ming light, mice like a shade." Perhaps they have*
been totroduced, in order to relieve the eyes t those
whose optics may suffer by gazing on the thhht of
light, which will, henceforth, illume the stage.
The House was, on this occasion, very folly atten-
ded. We sincerely hope we way, during the ensu-;
log season, be trequenly called on to make a similar
observairon.