New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-09-19
OPENING or THE METROPOLITAN
THEATER.


inc in Ney.York excites less attention than in any
other pace in the world 1t seems to be matter of
course that either should take place The other day
the Metropolitan Hall, finer concert-room than any
in Europe went up with fuss the other day it was
burnt down. and had its loss been traced TO an incen
diary he would not have enjoyed the fame OF an Eros
totratus for nine days transient is the glory OF the
DESTROYER in this Kaleidoscope New-York.
Indeed. hardly an ancient modern reputation, Tor
good or evil subjected to the tests and trials of New
York daily scene-shifiiDg could be formed WASH
ington now as youth might go from New'iork TO
new For. Pitt amid sayages and nobody care ABOUT
it: and Franklin draw new lightnincs from the
clouds to Hoboken lights, and 1t would nard'y DC
considered worth more than paragraph. The rush
Of business the crash of trumphso disappointmens
in speculation, the daily surge OF immigration tha'
beats against our shores, washing away the Old land
marks OF personal and family regulations and ante
cedents-hese all seem to deny the ordinary chances
of fame TO individual men and individual things and
turn to rubbish the old proyerbi, wisdom based on
the idea of the steadn SIS and slow growth OF COM
munities.
We felt all the force of these peculiarly local truths
as we entered the splendid Metropolitan Theater
lust raised on the site Of the lately destroyed Metro
as a matter of course-on the ruins of the former
hall an edifce, in comparison with whose splendors
the world-renowned cod Drury7 of Garrick, j ohm
son. Sheridan and Goldsmith, those Of New
castle coal-shallop compared with North River
steamer. And yet what sheer thing of course all
the New-Yorkers seemed to consider it. They came
in crowds-theatricas being brisk just now;-they
filed to the number of 5000 or more the pt, first
second and third tiers of boxes,--they gazed al the
vast extent of the house the food Of gas lights
"a. the proud decacies .of the iron pillars Allan
team fairies supporting worlds of weightatt Raph-
aesque vare ties of the box decorations where multi
tudinous Cupids, wreaths, festoons, and coronals,
coursed Ike artistic fire round the gay crce-at the
grand yersales-like ceiling, where the immortal
ties Of Greece painted BY Italian hands yet are cho-
sen TO typify Poetry, Music, and the Drama
at the little temples of the stage-bOxes, beautiful
enough for some dainty demi-god's shrine-at the
vast stage over which was pendant the vast curtain
and having so gazed at this, the audience seemed
much at home as if such building and all its dec
oraiions were matters of course instead OF being nov
elites approaching that of imperial palace in this
latitude Tie idea that America is entitled to every
ihing-hat all is possible here-that we are bound to
lump 70 concusous-is The secret Of this nonchaance
on the part Of the public.
The Metropolitan Thes;er I'VE shall call il Opera
" House" according TO the advertisement, when it
presents some claims that title and not before is
the largest dramatic establishment yet opened to this
public. Ii is more capacous than Niblos. The
hight of the ceiling is sufficiently elevated for thea
ter having four tiers Of boxes il has but three. The
liberal use of iron in its itruction gives il aerial
lightness which might cause the admirer of visible
soldy to doubt its strength: is, however strong
The shape of the house improvement on the old
horseshoe. Of late years theaters have been ap
preaching a logical form that Is, section of circle
with diyergng Sides This house though not the best
as to shape, is Improvement on the ancient form,
which combined the disadvantage OF removing the
persons in the central boxes far possible from
the stage and preventing those the side boxes from
seeing at all. All see the stage in this theater.
AS regards the extra b. hit of the second and third
tiers there is certainly loss of several feet but the
compensation lies in the increased initiation gained
The boxes all Economically open, save those on
the aysnt-scene, which literally on the avant-
scene and do not encroach on the stage proper.
The decorations in frosco by Signors Guidicni and
Dorigo are Of the Ezabethan style. The dome is
divided into eight lunetes inches, four Of which
contain medalons with portraits in has relief of the
great dramatic poets-Shakspere, Moliere, Racine
and Alferi On each side of the medallions reclines
female figure, holding in her hand the olive ami PALM
embems of peace, under whose auspices prosper art
and science. The other four inches contain medal
lions with portraits IL bas relief Of the great musical
omposers-Mozart Beethoven, Rossini and Beini--
surrounded by embems of music. Between the
inches on gold ground in imitation OF mosaic stand
eight figures Of Fame in bas relief holding in each
hand wreath of laurel. In the center of the dome
picture fifteen feet in dian eter represents Apollo
with three Of the Muscs-Terpsichore, Melpomene
and Calope-presiding deties Of the dance, tragedy
and heroic poetry. BY the side Of Terpsichore re-
cline wreath and mask, ernblems Of comedy On
the ceiling below the dome are two medsIons in
which are figures OF children. symboica of tragedy
and comedy. The center. piece of the ceiling under
tbs proseenium, is a figure representing America
The do ne 10 certainly the finest thing OF the kind
thus far made public in he United States 1t from
the pencil of Sgnor Dorgo, and will command the adj.
miraiion OF all eonnoseurs. The painting in fresco
viii bear examination through lorgne,ies so carefully
Is il executed.
The painting Of the scenery on the stage appears to
have been hurried II is bad aud quite unworthy the
iheAter.
The Inauguration took place amid rood deal Of
cheering. Mr. Eyiinge delivered poctical address,
ana 'udden'ya scoue revealed the whole company.
Who sang TIE .Spoagled BanNcr, and then there
was some nice dancing by the sisters Roussc,. The
chief piece Of the evening TAe Lady ef Lyon, afford
cd room for the talents OF two favorites-Mr. Eddy
aud Mics Julia Dtan-thc latter never looking more
charming and displaying to greater advantage her
feminine graoes and acting capabilities.
Tie tn,ser,dha GsHsrsi CenreHi,Ss meets to-