The New York herald., 1879-08-27
Preparations and Prospects for the
Season at Booths Theatre.
INTERVIEW WITH Mr.. B9UCICAULT.
Notable Changes and Improvements in
the Interior.
THE TICKET sPECULAToR DOOMED.

A HERALD reporter round MT. Boucicault ycster-
day. surrounded by workmen in the front of Booths
Theatre directing the alterations and decoration OF
tho interior In response to request that he would
give such information regarding the approaching
theatrical season, generally. he thought might be
interesting to the readers Of the HERALD. Mr. Bouci-
cault pointed to q of scafolding. with which
the auditorium encumbered. and remarked. $50
far the theatre is concerned you can help your
self" II dimly through the scaiolding,"
said the writer. ''that the proscenium has been
tirely reconstructed"
Eyes. we had to take it down." rejoined Mr.. Bou-
cicault "in fact to gut it. We have placed in new
foors altering private boxes which will now afford
q full view of the stage. and be moro accessible
and comfortable. The stage has been brought for
ward. new orchestra constructed. new footlights
and drawing room made in tho front of the par
quet. in which large easy chairs will afford those
who desire extra room and every comfort"
SAT an extra price. presumeT'
Eyes: these proscenum chairs will be 50, but there
are only forty Of them, and have removed ninety
two dollar and half seats to obtain this ROOM
1.-The proscenium appears to be gilt solid?"
alt is; my idea to make the proscenium gilt
frame Of picture. the proscenium pillars twelve
feet apart and forty feet high. joined by the baus
trades fronting the boxes. gded solid The span
the stage is also gilt solid and the front of the
picture frame forty feet wide by thirty feet
high" .p
''In this frame I suppose you expose 9 drop cur
tain. By whom has it been painted?'
do not like painted drop curtains; they usually
expose the audience scene more deliberately
painted than the scene which they reveal on the
stage when they are lifted. curtain should bo
curtain-a repose for the eye during the eatracte;
therefore use rich cloth curtain. fringed with
silk"
ALTERATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
II see you are making alterations in the house
itself?"
'The public complained. and very justly. that it
dismal aud heavy In its decoration. Mr.. Ames.
the proprietor has kindly and generously stepped
forward to repaint the entire OF the auditorium
from top to bottom In lighter and more brilliant
Whis blue and aoid The Ceiling il sKy blue all the
ceilings underneath the tiers cream color and god re-
lieved with blue and cherry. have taken down tho
front of the middle circle and contracted it by push
ing it forward, thus making tho house appear
smaller. Indeed, when the scaffolding is removed
expect that Booths Theatre will not look by any
means large house. and will lose much OF the ap-
pearance OF we'll, which 1t was compared to by
many rather severe critics.
"In regard to the prices. do you make any altera-
tons and also about the ticket speculators on what
have you decided?"
be,ore-$1 so reserved and 81 admission.
10 the balcony. II reserved and hfty
served and twenty-five cents admission. and to
second tier. twenty-five cents. All admissions pur
may be returned. il unused. to the box Office.
FOR TICKET sPECULAroRs.
''No tickets will be any spectators under
any circumstances whatever They may come. of
course. and buy them without my knowledge at the
box office. and cannot see how they can DO pre-
vented from selling them at profit on their invest
ment. especially when the public encourage them
by dealing so largely with them as they do.
serving seats alter nine o'clock. as I
think It is unjust toward parties who are
lou vvacu mt Raat a
entire performance while they are kept DISTRESS
ingly fatigued upon their feet. II some such rule
observed ticket would hesitate be-
fore investing in tickets which might be left on their
hands after nine O'Clock"
Office all the reserved seats. thereby leaving
no accommodation tor tho public who come ut
night and who on entering the theatre ind all the
''Those occasions are unfortunately very rare.
However. considerable number Of seats in each part
OF the theatre will retained unreserved to accom-
modate the general admission coming at night
"With what theatre do you expect Booths to como
THE NEW DRAMATIC ERA
al do not see how it interfere with any. hope
it will be In romantic domestic drama what Wall
lacks is in comedy. Hitherto it has always been
theatre devoted to spectacular pieces 1t has
never yet been tried with q stock company"
''What is the nature OF your piayY
cit Is n romantic drama OF modern life, think
of elevated and refined class than either The
Streets of New York or After Dark. which we're
domestic melodramas OF the lower type"
els 1t derived from novel from any French
playY"
"No; It is entirely original in every respect. 1t
may not DO any the better for that, but 1t is
The have written 1t to suit those actors and
actresses whom found myself able to collect into
company, and don't think have made any misfts.
Booths Theatre was fast declining. and thought
that the New York people regarded its ruin WI
affectionate regret. Therefore, seeing many very
excellent artists at a loss for New York engage
ments resolved to make one effort to restore the
theatre to . leading position in this city. have
taken It for only six months. with the privilege OF
continuing for year; but have invested money in
| its
long lease. have no desire nor have the ability
to be manager and shall very willingly relinq uish
the reins into the hands OF younger and more am
bilious But III the present enterprise let
only succeed in restoring the theatre market
to authors actors aud first class house of intel
lcctua for the people Of New York and
l shall only have repaid them very small install
ment 10 debt for many favors have received from
them. the first item OF which dates back twenty-five
ONLY BRIGHT STARS WANTED.
els II your intention to admit stars to the thea
treY'
"when my dramatic season has closed there will be
no objection to such stars Mr.. Edwin Booth. the
Italian OPERA Mr.. Irving. MISS Nelson. Mr.. McCu-
Tough. Miss Anderson aud others of that respectA-
bility and importance. There are not many of them
unfortunately but should decline to open the doors
of Booth Theatre to entertainment inferior to
that offered by my own company during the dramatic
season. In these cases, however my own company
would longer remain in the theatre, but would go
starring in other cities in such pieces as they had
new company being organized to support the
stars"
| hold at your scale OF pricesT
| -s'Between $2,0O0 and 2,4O0"
''What would you consider fair average housc?"
'One thousand dollars night, but do not think
| any theatre In New York has for some time past
shown ything like that average through the sea-
| son; for the expense of hrst class theatre Is
about $500 per week. more less, the manager
who takes $1,000 week receipts receives $500
per week profit, which appears to be over 100000
In thirty weeks. fail to recolect any such profits
since 1S74-5, when Wallack's Theatre, during very
exceptional season, realized much larger profit"
! 'You do not appear yourself ct Booths Theatre
during the coming seasonY
"No; appear at Wallack's"
| "At what date?
"As late as possible. have promised Mr. wsllack
| piece with which to open his season, and hope
after that he will find some other piece to follow
and intervene between this opening play and my
appearance"