The New York herald., 1870-05-14
THE DRAMA ABROAD.
A New Theatre In London-Its Architecture
and Adornment.

AAAG 0AN1AmA do0OA0s
New Theatre In L0ndon-Its Architecture
and Adornment.
LONDON, April q, 1870.
There is little news in the theatrical world beyond
the approaching opening OF two new theatres-the
Vaudeville In the Strand ana the Chelsea in Sloane
square. The former house, Of which gentleman
holding good official appointment In the Treasury
Is alleged to be the actual proprietor though Messrs
Montague, James and Tnorne are the avOwed lessees
York managers send you technical account Of the
architecture aud decorations OF the nrst:-
THE NEW THEATRE THE STRAND
Th house has been upon the site occupied by Nos
s and ao Strand and Bsntinck
wards the north and to Lumey court towards the east
rs EsGun .ma IN w @ The
SONS wh ph amount Of sSaang space IN sad
S hssss assi1s' shn he sssf
every % respect ppinoipal
srsaa y iy' STAT ;ss
wa 70 ss rs p
nsy sna aSs II mns s he'd from
@ opening srs
level dess circle ter the front of the nSper
same and s ns o the sSnS he he
sss S 4: Ts on s
ssas 'ss hs se A On sss sSe
s "
ing dgnre subject Below these, asaIn On the pit level
facing the stage are SCI apart for the royal family ana
? om s sy ecrS S % large
There 49, however another corridor the other slde
se * % & from 'sa S
e. g safo M sar ".e.
same two rows & 0 upper circle and spacious gallery
the Vaudeville has larger seating than the
opening IN SSnlas s fS .
handsome rercshent saloon, with cloak cont guous
Se e the e n oI aaa he ocSpys
% ns hs su Gs
tory Is by sunbqrnes in centre OF ceiling The ventilation
he s IN a
the yhf ea
the ceiling over he centre Of the p carried
stage wen adapted for kind Of performance II
back wall with dock for slowing scenery In addition
@ s @ we esa
With S s nss 'sss sSr % S
lights thosc which have been introduced by Mr. Phpps
Ms,rs s.roSe the ghs being entirely oi The
parallel with he hs d u Is as
shs od mannea
sng 3 we the audience and the
as % the slsx 81 getting burnt ss piece SI
glasses should break. particular burner fails down and
shua @ on ne gas Behind the cnan are the usual
The coored decorations have been executed by Mr..
Ssns no Taseq selling
General the ceiling divided into
ground front Of he balcony ter is the
groatps nd This roRt os slightly ont Of s
ground produces rich effect The lunees In arches
oyer The private boxes, Y Mr. W. rhips represent
iH aa 'hs rn Te 81 or
e s % Rs S See e Sss%
an Goa So9r Win which ne wa are lined The acdrop
n the m bn BY Mr. Alfred e Tnopsoa The seats
woodwork being ebonlscd.
There was gastrol lomcal prelude to the opening
OF the vaudeville at ST. Jamcs' Hall on Sunday last,
Dickens occupied the vice chair. All the London
managers, with the exception OF MIR. Blackstone, and
tie se and ea nrass hs
broke ur.
The English Staye-What ia On md What is
Coming Ont--The People Who Play the
Parts and the People Who Write the
PIays-Cgiticisni of the Compo sifion and the
Various Plots.
LONDON, April %, 1870.
"Great cry and little WOOL was as history
automatically records, the polite exclamation OF the
devil While engaged Ein the delicate operation
OF shearing a pig. The phrase might be
applied with equal grace and precision to the state
Of things brought about in the theatrical world by
the simultaneous Intention of Two rival managers TO
produce an English version OF the French melo-
drama fooshly entitled "Frou-Frou." What
mighty-to-do there was, to be sure, TO
see who should have his play out first
What rushing and scampering here and
there and everywhere What hot disputations
among lawyers What weighty deliberations by
that FalstaY Of Chancery, Vice Chancellor James
And all to what ends Ndscttur rfdtcul,1s mus
Amid weghty CONFUSION OF dramatic mountains
out creeps mouse-the tiniest mouse that ever ran
across the stage. In other words. this play which
made such fuss In It's coming as to fright the Isle
from It's propriety turns ont to be one Of the duest
silliest dramas ever witnessed upon the London
boards. The st. James, version which described
to you In my last letter was bad enough
in all conscience, but that now In course
OF representation at the Olympic is still worse.
The original play was doubtless well suited TO the
taste Of Partisan audience and when played at the
Gymnase with such artists as Mdlle. Aimee Desclee
and Mdlle. Federenn IN the chief characters it went
down swimmingly but the wit, the sentiment the
humor, the vital elixir. have ~ Vanished 10 the pro.