Evening star., 1866-09-14
Opening Of the theatrical Season.
NATIONAL rHBAPaR

hATichAL THBAr1R.
We dropped IN this morning at the oNa.
uonaf'-so recnristened-and found the place
a scene OF rushing activity peculiar TO a iarre
theatrical establishment on the eve of re-.
opening. Scenic artists, paper. hangers. nm
holsterers, carpenters, gas-ntters, and ma
cninery men were plying their implements
win busy Assiduify; and though to the casual
eye things looked rather ems Fed, :" 1t needed but
asnort survey OF the premises TO see that very
S SrLIiant results were rapidly being evol we'd
hraca ~ 1ss so,a urIy-ouriy. Upon the stage,
wnlie close at hand. and undisturbed by the
ciatter and hustle, Mr.. Lamb was putting in
.ne rapid effective touches upon the new act
curtain. At the box -ofice front and else sewhere
was busy set OF theatrical folk arranging all
the myriad details of the new scenic play for
tne opening-in short, the whole establis hment,
up STAIRS and down, was a scene OF hustle and
The result of all this labor must be that the
NationaF' '-ex" "Grover's"-witl hardly
know Itself. The auditorium has been greatly
improved: the fronts Of the parquette, family
circle and gallery have been painted deli
cate lilac, and Ornamented in relief with clas-
sic female heads in plaster, surrounded with
flowing SCROLL work. The private boxes have
been reftted in style 10 adap them for the
use of the most fastidious. Internally, they
are delightfully."- cosy and luxurious, aud the
outer decorations of coloring and gliding are
marked by much better taste than usually
characterizes such adornments. The new act
curtain upon wnlcn Lam ID Is engaged VIII add
much to the attractIveness of the place. The
picture, styled 1.-THE Dream of Arcadia" after
Coles celebrated panting, is embraced In a
gracefully ornamented oval. Lamb has in
this instance shown his usual good taste in
choice of subjects for effective and pleasing
curtain scenes
A feature worthy of notice is the arrange
ment of the fcot-lights, which are sunk into
the stage in a concave metallic screen; thus
avoiding the unsIghtly and incon veniant per-
pendicular shades formerly in use. The green
NJ i'm hain axx-1x,
pered and carpeted, showing that thoughtful
attention has been paid to the comfort and con-
venience OF the company, as well as the au-
dience.
One notes, IN passing behind the scenes, the
ample supply of fire hose by which, in case
of fire, the theater cou Id be flooded with wa
ter almost instantly. In act, in refitting the
theaier every Improvement that experience or
good judgment and good taste could suggest,
mas been adopted without regard to cost The
entire building, we may say here, has been
completely renovated; and not an unsghtly or
defaced object meets the eye. A new entrance
has been made to the gallery, directly from
The street. west of the box office, whereby no
little pressure is diverted from the main en-
trance through which the gallery occupants
formerly passed. Further facility of egress is
also made by constructing outlet door AT
the west side of the dress-circIe. By these
means the theater can be emptied in very much
less time than heretofore. The gallery
trance and stairway is also of such width to
allow OF easy entrance and exit In the dress
circle great improvement has been effected,
by raising the platforms holding the rear
dress-circle chairs, by which means occupants
OF these faVorlte seats have an uninterrupted
view of the stage
Externally, we nOIe many Improvements,
amCng which is the elevation upon the roof OF
large lamps, calculated to throw Hood OF
lgbtupon the street front.
The alterations in the house have been made
under the superin tendence of Messrs. Kelley IL
Gross. the machinisis OF the theater; the drop
and act curtains by Lamb, the scenic artist or
the National the frescoing is by Oarstein:
painting by Zachary & Spalding; and the up.
holsteTing by Jonn Alexander. Contemporary
with the progress of the work OF renovation and
adornment is the extensive work OF prepara-
ton by another set of mechanics and artists for
bringing out the new spectacular play which
has had such a run sewhere, styled the Ice
WItca: and which affords GetZ. of Baltimore, an
opportunity TO employ all his resources and
talents in the way of scenic display.lt is de-
signed TO bring this play out in effective style
at the National, as demonstration to some ex-
tent of the capabilities OF the establishment.
The immense stage of the National-one of the
largest IN the country-afords unlimited range
Tor the machinisps art. as does also the ample
wings and great pitch of ceiling. The stage,
by the way, mas been entirely reconstructed
for the new season; and particularly with a
view TO the adequate personatiOn OF the .'Ice
Witch" This piece, which requires an army
of performers, will have in leading parts the
Fowler Sisters, danseuses, Bangs, Bishop,
(comedian,) Miss Josephine Tyson. lice
Witch,) Mrs. Fred Williams, cOmmedienne
and vocalist, and Louisa Glasford, from
Niblo's Garden. as the Sun God.
The Ice Witch is to be followed by a line of
performances sufficiently varied to suit the va
rIety OF tastes, and which will bring before us
during the season such stars as Rstori, 10 JEFF
ferson, JAS w. Wallack, the Maretzek Italian
Opera Troupe, Maggie Mitchell, the Webb Sis
ters, &c, &c. The regular company is not yet
fully made up, but will embrace such per-
formers as MIR. Spackman, (Stage Manager,)
Nr Bangs. MIR. JeffrIes, Miss josephine Ty-
son, Miss Adele Plunkett, Mrs. Germon and
Mrs. williams.
The general management of the establishment
will be in the competent naHds OF the proprie-
tors, Messrs. Spalding & Rapley, and the pub
lie may thus count upon liberal catering for
their amusement, and ample arrangements tor
their comfort and convenience.
The task of securing first class stars-theatri-
cal and operatic--for the National, has been
ludiciously confided to Mr. John L. Ford who,
by securing the same performers for engage
ments al his Holiday Street Theatre, in Bal l.
more, will be skillIng two birds with one
stone," and WILL in the double engagement
thus offered, he able TO afford irresistible in
dncements to first class talent
We look for an exceedingly brilliant season
AT the National 1t Will possibly open en-
Monday night, bat certainly in the early part
OF next week.