Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-11-16

to :so: in the hr4en track without changing with tie
times and situation wc now occupy amongst the nations
Q. ne e2!.a.
THE REFORMED DRAMA
We may now congratulate the Public on the opening
Of the Theatre, On Wednesday night. Every trI
went off we'll The Orchestra IL decidedly the best We
have ever heard in Richmond 1t were worth while 10
attend the Theatre, If II FOR nothing else than 10
hear the exquisite strains OF their music The Opening
Address, from The pen of young Lady OF iFg"'a, wIs
beautiful aud appropriate, and delivered Inc
style by Mrs Jones. The Merry Comedy OF "Chare:
the I'd or the Merry Monarch from the pen Of oul
countryman, Howard Payne and the allrrpi.ce Of Tic
"Young Widow, played with great sP!'l. arr
were received with great relish by numerous and br
liant audience We have not enjoyed such rcprcsen.
a,ion from Stock Company, in Richmond, for years
past-and such, believe, was The general SEMI
ilcnt Of the best Judges Of h.GtIonc entertainment
After the fall Of the Curtain, Mr.: George Jones,
the tasteful, talented, and most interchangeable and CT
cent Manager Of the Theatre, called for by the
audience, TO receive the acc!nmaton Of their thanks
Mr. Jones appeared III his ordinary, working dress
for which he apoogsed, being, he said, the costume he
had for the last three months IN the service OF The
TheaLre-and in very few warm and eloquent SEMEN
ces returned his acknowledgements for the reception
he had met with and modcsty pointed to what he had
done, as n redemption OF the pledges he had made N
March last and earnest OF what lie intended 10
TO for the reformation Of the Drama and the amusement
OF enlightened community. Our thanks arc due 10
him, for his extraordinary exerions-to the building
ComRec who superintendent and assisted the work
capital and contributed their time, 10 renovae the STAGE
under happier auspices.
It's now for the Citizens Of Richmond say, whether
cy are prepared to support an elegant, improved and
moral Drama If this effort fails, may BID adeu for
A. .-.:...-I entertainment If they
will not su ppor this Theatre then they viii
What eXertiors have been spared 10 cmbesh and i'm.
prove il? What taste has been withheld What cx-
pense has been Stunned? The building has risen like
the Phoenix from lis ashes, but with hr!tancy of pum.
age and vigor Of Frame which were utterly unknown
IN bot
within and without, has beeu finished in superior
ner. So perfectly changed is that one, who
suddenly transported into H. could have recognized It's
identity. 1t presents the old question Of the hetaphy
sCian, whether il is Tie same building or not!t has no
supercrnay, we venture 10 say, that has no cGunl IN
America. gentleman Of taste assures u.s. that It Is
decidedly superior in the beauty OF lis establishment 10
Caldwes celebrated Theatre at Kew Orleans. With
every advantage, then. which the Fine Arts can com
municate-sluccoed and painted from without-wih the
most beautiful paintings the faces Of the Joxessplen-
did amps-a dome and drop curtain of exquisite cxecm
tion-wIth an rnr!valled Orchsslra-an excellent Stock
Company, and brilliant Stars and anon, TO iii cross
the horizon as circumstances invite lhem-ihe question
home TO the Citizens OF RIchmGHd Whether they
will support this Theatre with spirit which corresponds
to the merits Of the Design. For one, say AYE!
II will be interesting readers, both IN town and
country 10 those who and TO those who DO not, TO
peruse the following description Of this Gem Of the
Drama
Tie interior, or area of the Theatre, is feet wider
than the old building. The Box seats have been lower
ease, but increased effect for scenic display The seats
cushioned with crimson damask and passage way
introduced in each Box to prevent tie necessity las Tor.
meEy) OF stepping over or on the seats he ten co.
lumns supporting each circle Of Boxes IN the form
OF Roman GSceS with the double weapon, adding thereby
materially the classic character of The Theatre In
the centre Of each fasce is introduced iron bar two
inches square, 10 give perfect stability TO the strength oi
the Boxes The Area is illuminated by Grecian astTals
and ornamented with splendid Prisms. The Ph is ma
terialy increased in size by being carried under por'
ton Of the Boxes in imitation OF DFuy LANG, LONDON.
The Orchestra is built upon the model OF me ancient
Theatres viz an inverted arch of wood lthe circle o!
which would be eight feet is placed beneath Tic Nooroi
the Orchestra, the whole extent OF Inc oichesta, pI0-
ducipp thereby The full organ sounds so desirable tor the
full melody in music This is believed to be the FIRST
application Of the Classic principle in this country The
Paintings by Mario, Brgadi, and assistants, are IN de-
signs as follows, viz The DOME Cor ceil!ng( is l=o
feet in circumference, equal in size, as 1t exceeds IN
beauty, that Of the National Theatre, New York TIE
circumference is divided into eight alternate compaf'
ments, surrounded by circle Of con!gn'Hg Ct
uidslance) forty stars OF dead gold The outer cc'c
is Of warm, stone colour, relief TO the astral Pc
rphery. The ground Of the smaller compartments l.
light buff, ornamened with thread foliage In the cen
ire Of each is placed an elongated diamond panel each
containing head Of Medusa, the protective emblem OF
Minerva. The four large compartments are uneGun'e"
for their colorng and beauty. The ground IS o. Ic'
colour, upon which is the Raffaelique style OF Pa!hne'
in imitation Of the great masters effort ~
upon the panels Of the Roman Vatican as 'hS taceFy
approaches 10 the centre Of the Done, II supports
plinth each surmouned by female figure, en,oe'au
cal of History, Poetry, Painting and sipsc' ING ape
of the Dome radiaes TO circle oil SIX leet m oafne'
ter in the centre of which is FURNISHED GOLD rosee,
surrounded with carved work. pierced for ventilation
The corners Of the ceiling over the upper pfoscenilm
contain an octagon encaslng an architectural roselte
The entablaue Immediately under the Dome, is design
ed and painted by the Lessee. 1t represents (n alto re-
eyo) trophy The memory Of MARSHALL, as the sol
der and magistrate, viz: A stone frame with the oy'o
mouding) 40 feet at the UPPER and 80 the lower edge
and feet bgh-encoses, on both sides OF the centre.
panel Of gold-v marble, on the surface Of
which, the ef is the tascc enwreated with the an
cient emblem Of the Consul-msgsratr. On ms pan,
nell also is the laureled Athenian Standard Inc pae'
on the right, bears the corresponding emUems WIN Tue
addition of the Roman Standard. The centre or p'nc!
pal trophy represents the front Of SarcoPhaSus IN "
reiiero of white marble The plnih supports group.
Grecan and Roman armour. reclining against i4e p'e''
plate Of Minerva, which. bearing the Meduuan hen"'
indicates the silence of Envy and Distraction IN 'Ne
midst of the Shields and Helmets is seen, the emois
of the Magistrate, being, in alegory, trophy 70 'Ip
der of the Battle Of BraDdyw and the CE!ei
of the Republic. The entablaturc OF the sarrophastI
an a!!egorical Illustration Of the union OIL me oIs"
States The plin,h bears in bold scu!Pture,-aia 'i"'
the word MARSHALL. ,oo II,
The painting of the upper circle of boxes loV The
on canyass-y.he same with the lower ttefs 80,
around is buff color, TO match The Dome fanes- 49,,
divided into octagons with the AEabesgne iface5
ornaments purnlc and sold.