The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-10-12


The OPELoUsAs THEATRE.-The pa
irons Of the Drama in particular, and
the lovers of refined and intellectual
amusement in general, will be highly
gratified and delighted to learn that
there is a rich treat in store for them.
We are authorized to announce that
heSupreme Court room has b~eensecured
and Is now being fitted up as a Theatre
under the auspices of several enterpris-
ing citizens of this place, who have re-
solved themselves into a stock company
and raised a fund for that purpose. This
is d very commendable undertaking and
we wish it every possible success. No
town Boosting as many inhabitants as
ours should be without a theatre. The
advantages arising from such an institu-
ton are so numerous, and 50 clear to
even the most obtuse understanding that
we deem it utterly unnecessary to COM
ment upon them at any considerable
length. Not only docs a we'll conducted
theatre infnse increased vigor and ac-
tivity into the ordinary business avoca-
tions OF life, but it serve to relieve the
tedium of the dull routine of trade, and
at the same time to educate and refine
the popular taste. Ever since the days
of its ilustrious founder, the great Thes-
pts, down to the presentage, the Drama
has exercised a marked influence on the
social relations of life, and pointing a
moral as well as adjoining a tale,p as it
has evePdone. The Stage has proved al
mostasf rnitfulo of goodas the Pulpititsclf
The 0pelousas Theatre will be
opened under the joint management of
Messrs. s. NJ. Drake and Harry Clayton,
both gentlemeno Of experience and ability
i'm the dramatic art. Mr.. Clayton is now
I'M New Orleans, whittier he has gone for
the purpose of engaginga full and COM
plete stock company for the aboveestab-
1ishmenf. Mr. Drake is here busily en-
gagged III supervising the erection Of the
stage andthe general tfttingup of the
theatre, and he assures us that all the
"'piecesn produced under his direction
will be mounted and presented to the
public III the most superior style of ele-
gallce. The managers propose, during
their professional stay in our town (the
length of which viii be determined by
the amount of patronage which they
may r~eeeiye1 producing soneo of the very
best legitimate and sensational plays
from the most celebrated dramatic arl-
tllora oil the world.
The opening piece will be the grand
romantic drama, Astounding in the most
thrilling incidents and startling Htua-
lions, entitled G The Sea of Ice or 9 Tie
Wild Flower OF Mexico This is, per-
hapa, tile most thrilling and effective
play m the whole ranged of thesensational
drama, and when frafprOdueed, enjoyed
a successful and uninterrupted run of
several hundred consecutive nights in
the largest cities of the world. 1t viii
be gotten mp here with m attention
to detail III scenery, costumes and me-
chanical effects never before witnessed
in q provincial theatre.
We propose, in the next issue of our
paper giving q synopsis Of The scenery,
and principal incIdentsof this great play
from the pen Dc the stage manager. Mr..
q. M. Drake.
The Theatre will be fully completed
in the our of eight OF ten days, when
it viii be Immediately opened with an
efficient corps DC Metropolitan artists Of
the first order OF talents-lue notice of
the opening night together with the
play and distribution Of characters, will
be given,