The New York herald., 1873-11-07
THE NEW PARK THEATRE.

The reason that Niblos Theatre continues TO be-
so called is because Nbo has nothing 10 do with T.
SO the Fifth Avenue Theatre obtains its name from
the TACT that II Is not In Fifth avenue and the New
"Park,n which Mr. Pursell is erecting on the cor.
ner OF Broadway and Twenty-second street. has
no more connection with a "Parkn than
man has with the godfather whose
nane he bears. We paid an edit0rial3
visit to tins building in the condition Of a
skeleton. The outlines OF the theatre are vslbleS
and resemble the European rather than the Ameri5
can system. The plans and designs OF the theatra
have been furnished by Mr.. Boucicault under
whose inspiration Mr.. Diaper, the archfs
tect, is building the auditorium and Mr.
schonberg is erecting the stage. The pro-
gress OF the building was arrested fort
night ago. During the absence Of the master
spirit OF the English stagen the tiers OF boxes had
been put up, but on his arrival ordered them all
down again. He pronounced the lines OF sight TO
be wrong, so the joists were all withdrawn from
the walls like SO manv uneven teeth and
regulated otherwise, iron columns were thrown
out, others cnt short, and general "cussedness'S
prevailed until things were inclined and settled
down to the satisfaction OF the aforesaid ''master
spirIt.n Mr.. Boucicaults design differs ma
teriay from that OF any other thea
ire IN the city. His proscenium 10
Greek in order and upon it is concentrated all the
gliding and briancy Of the house. The auditO-
rum Is subdued, the white and gold prevailing in
other theatres being eschewed. Instead OF paS-
terihg yer tne walls and painting them In distemper
the decoration consists OF satin laid frames, or,
as ne would say in his own ma tional vcrnaculare
tne walls are "papered with satin.n BY new
system OF nghtng The jets OF gas out OF sight;
the walls are lurrOwed from bottom TO top with
nues which carry on the products OF combustion
and aid In ventilatng the house. The ceiling
seems to be quite novelty. A large semcircular
orlce IS provided in the root. Surrounded by a
low white marble balustrade above this orifice
lid ls suspended, covering its entire space This,
lid when raised a little admits ventilation over
the entire ceiling, fifty feet across one way by
twenty-four feet the other. When allowed to de-
scend 1t closes the ventilation The under side Of
this I'D forms the ceiling, and is painted cool.
blue sky, ireckled with stars.
No new system OF stage machinery has been ad-
mitted The prompter occupies the position usual
side the leader OF the orchestra, instead OF, as We
generally have him, at the side OF the curtain.
There viii be twelve private boxes on the prosce-
mum, which may be turned into six double boxes
the parquet floor win be furnished with
seats precisely similar in comfort, no distinction
whatever being made between one part OF the
house and another. The price OF admission will be
unilorm-sl; first come, first served. Mr.. Bouct-
caut states that the form OF proscenlum he has
constructed Is the result OF many years Of
experimental study, and he is confident
OF the stage will be plainly heard all over th0
building The frontage OF the theatre is on BroadI
second street, it is eighteen feet wide in the clear
and being only thirty feet from the auditorium il
affords the most immediate, ample and easy exit OF
any theatre in this metropolis. The situation is
unrivaled, being In the very heart OF the city, and
easily accessible from every quarter. To
obv1ate the casualty OF fire the workshops
OF the carpenters, painters, gasmen, property
men and all the magazines are not allowed in thei
theatre but are carried on outside in factory
devoted to their business, and every gasburner IS
protected. like q Davy lamp, with a wire gauze'
shield. SO much for the body of tine Park Theatre,
which will be under the general direction OF iJs
lessee, Mr.. William Stuart The character Of the en-
tertainments Will be comedy and comedy drama
what the French call "d,ane inttnle" Mr. Bouci-
cault desires ITO go for'' that large, quiet re-
spectacle and domestic section OF our community,
whom, he thinks, require what he calls family
theatre, where the performances are expur-
gated and rendered Tree from objectionablg
subjects and dialogue-such place OF
amusement a mother Of family can allow her
daughters TO frequent with confidence, that they
will hear nothing tney may not repeat nor see
anything they may not recall and converse about
freely. All this promises well. There Is room for
such theatre; and if such promises be kept In
good Iaith, We shall say, with Rip Van Wlnkle,
"Here's its good health and its famiy's and may
1t live long and prosper"