River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-11-13
THE NEW THEATRE AT GENEVA:
One of the Fruits of the Duke of Bruins
Vick's Mnnnicence.
Geneva Cor. London Times

The new theatre which was opened
last week is one of the handson1est and
Ian gest structures of the sort in Europe.
In beauty and extent it ranks next TO
the opera-houses of Paris and Vienna
In externa, appearance IT greatly re-
sembles that OF Paris, being bui,t in the
same style of architecture, while the
decorations and arrangement of the
interior are as perfect as lavish ex9en-
diture and artistic taste can make them.
The vestibule which fronts tie Place
Neuve, is connected with The first ttdge
by two noble flights of stars, with bal
ustrades OF red marble, and succeed,
ornamented panels, lighted by splendid
candlebra representing group OF chill
dren. the work of NJ. Carrier Belleuse.
The upper part Of the staircase walls
and the ceiling are richly painted; one
scene, by Nj. de Beaumont, depicts the
four seasons; another, by NJ. Dniaux,
the -four elements; and M. Leon Gaud
has contributed several allegorical fig
ures Of high merit. The five doors
which give access to the first gallery are
surmounted by busIs of Plautus, Vol
taire, Shakespeare, Racine, and Sopho-
Giles. The grand JDHer 1.-THE crush.room),
Immediately over the principalentrance,
and lighted by three balconied windows,
is one of the most remarkable parts of
the theatre. The floor is in variegated
pdYqutsrie. The prevailing tint of the
wainscoting is light chamois. The pill
lars supporting the painted ceiling are
at once graceful and solid, and the gid
ing is profuse without being too prom
inent. But the chefs q Gupne of the
room are the carved chimney piece in
the style of Louis XIV, bearing in the
centre the arms of Geneva, and sur
mounted by bust of Apollo; and the
mural paintings of NJ. Milhet, repre-
senting the comic and the tragic muses..
The auditorium is in keeping with the
rest of the house. The form of the
galleries, the prevailing tint light cha
mois on red groundl, and the style of
ornamentation are in excellent taste.
The three tiers of galleries have an out
ward inclination, tho lowest tier being
in advance of the highest. The audi
torium is lighted by splendid lustre.
veritable work of art, with 400 bronze
burners The seats are upholstered in,
red velvet, and the lower parts OF the
walls are papered or painted to match.
While every precaution has been taken
to prevent fires, the amplest facilities
for exit are provided, and the theatre
can be empti0d of its occupants in q
few minutes, so numerous are the doors
and SO spacious are the staireases and
corridors. twenty eight jets of water
at full pressure are always ready TO be
directed on any point of danger, and,
by means of iron curtains and doors,
one part OF the house can be immedi-
ately cut off from the rest. The cost
of this splendid temple of Thespis has
been defiayed from the proceeds of the
Brunswick legacy, and, including the
value of the land on which il is built,
exceeds 100000 francs. 1t is, Of
course the property OF the city OF Ge-
nova, and for year, at least, will be
managed by the municipality, in order
that they may ascertain by actual ex-
perlencc the extent 10 which it will be
necessary thereafter to suhsidize The
lessee. In any case, believe it is in
tended to continue the system, certainly
peculiar 10 Geneva, of submitting the
cl,ims of debutants to the direct sui
frages of the play.goers. a book Is
kept III which regular ireqnenteTs OF
the theatres may enter their names,
and, whenever it becomes n question OF
making an addition to the company,
the aspirant is required to perform three
times, after which a meeting i called
to decide whether he shall be perma-
nently engaged or not Players at
Geneva are thus, ike pastors and town
councillors, chosen by universal suffrage.
Judged by It's results, however, this sys-
tenn cannot be looked upon as allogeth-
er satisfactory, for the old theatre,
whether as reg ards the character of It's
plays or the qualifications of its actors,
was one Of the least reputable 10 Sgilz'
erland. But confident hopes are now
expressed that the drama in Geneva
will nenceforth be conducted IN a man
ner BETTING its ne. and beautiful home