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

The reason that Nblo's Theatre continues TO be-
so called is because Niblo has nothing do with IT.
So the Fifth Avenue Theatre obtains its name from
the TACT that IT IS not In Fifth avenue and the New
"Park,n which Mr.. Pursell is erecting on the core
ner OF broadway and Twenty second street, has
no more connection with "Parkn than
man has with the godfather whose
name ne bears. We paid an edtoriala
visit to tins building in the condition OF d
skeleton. The outlines OF the theatre are vislble}
and resemble the European rather than the Ameri5
can system The plans and designs OF the theatrd
have been furnished by Mr.. Boucicault, under
whose inspiration Mr.. Diaper, the arch|
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 stage' the tiers OF boxes had
been put up, but on his arrival ne 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be wrong, SO the joists were all withdrawn from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 cut short, and general "cussedness's
prevailed until things were inclined and settled
down to the satisfaction OF the Aforesaid "master
spirlt.n Mr. Boucicault's design differs ma.
terially from that OF any other thea
tire IN the city. His proscenium 10
structure independent OF the auditorium,
Greek In order, and upon it is concentrated all the
gliding and prilllancy of the house. The audito-
rum is subdued, the white and gold prevailing in
other theatres being eschewed. Instead OF plas-
tering the walls and painting them In distemper
sne decoration consists Of satin lad on frames, or,
az ne would say in his own na tional vcrnaculara
tne walls are "papered with satin" BY new
system oi lighting the jets OF gas are out OF sight;
the walls are lurrowed from bottom to top ith
hues which carry OF the products OF combustion
and aid ~ ventilating the house. The ceiling
seems to be quite a novelty. large semi-crcular
Orlice is provided in the root. Surrounded BY a
low white marble balustrade above this oriice q
I'D IS 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 It closes the ventilation. The under side Of
this lid forms the ceiling, and is painted cool,
blue sky, lreckled with stars.
No new system OF stage machinery has been ad.
mtted The prompter occupies the position usual
in the French Misunderstanding the actors and be-
side the leader OF the orchestra instead OF, as we
generally have him, at the side OF The curtain.
There Will be twelve private boxes on the prosce-
by movable partitions. The two balconies and
the parquet noor win be furnished with
whatever being made between one part OF the
house and another. The price OF admission will be
cault 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 tho
building The frontage OF the theatre is on Broad1
way, midway between Twenty first and Twenty
second street, ii is eighteen feet wide in the clear
and being only thirty feet rom the auditorium il
affords the most immediate, ample and easy exit OF
any theatre in this metropolis. The situation Is
unrivaed, being in the very heart OF the city, and
easily accessible from every quarter. To
obviate the casualty OF fire the workshops
OF the carpenters, painters, gasmen, property
men and all the magazines are not allowed in the!
theatre, but are carried on outside in a factory
devoted to their business, and every gasburner s
protected. like a, Davy lamp, with a wire ganze
shield. SO much for the body of the Park Theatre,
which will be under the general direction OF itS
lessee, Mr.. William Stuart The character OF the en-
tertalnments VIII be comedy and comedy drama
what the French call "d,Gme intinle.n Mr.. BOuci-
cault desires "to 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 Objectionable
subjects and dialOgue-such place OF
amusement as 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 a theatre; and If such promises be kept in
good laith, we shall say, with Rip Van Wlnkle,
"Here's it's good health and its family's, and may
1t live long and prosper"