The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-04-09

NIGHT OF THE HOUSE,
ITS DECORATIONS AND GENERAL AP-
PEARANcE.- RILEY CAMPBELL $
GALLEY SLAVE COMPANY TO GIVE THE
INITIAL PERFORMANCE.
At last the stage is ready for the actors.
The opening of the new Opera House on
Monday evening next promises to be tile
dramatic event in Staunton's history. ana
it deserves to be. Our Opera House mas
been much talked about and its compie-
tion postponed from time to time, bur now
all is ready, and the people OF Stauhtoh
have the satisfaction of knowing that they
have the handsomest and most compiete
entertainment hall for its size IN tile
South. 1t is veritable thing Of beauty.
At cost of less than $4,000 the great
barn-like room in the City Hall has been
transformed into the suggest and cozlest
opera house on the sunny side OF the foto-
mae. 1t occupies the entire second moor
of the City Hall building, the dimensions
of which are 60 by 140 feet The former
entrance has not been changed. into tIle
lobby four broad flights Of steps descend
two leading into the orchestra and orches-
ira circles and two into the balcony
and dress circle. In addition thefe
are iron stair ways leading from the
windows of the building on either SIDE,
and broad gangway to the ground in the
rear of the stage. In case OF emergency
the house could be emptied in an incredl-
bly, short time.
The auditorium is classed into four de-
partmenfs. viz: orchestra, orchestra cir
Gle. dress circle, and balcony. The
entire house is furnished wath patent
folding opera chairs. The seating capacity
is over eight hundred. there being five hun
dred chairs in the orchestra and orchestra
circles and the balance in the balcony and
dress circle. Four opera boxes, two on each
side of the stage. are elegantly draped with
lambrequins of crimson, old gold and pea,
cock blue plush, and the entrances to them
are through portieres OF crimson tur-
conan. Each box accommodates six
cilairs. and affords an excellent view of
the stage.
The stage is $2x35 feet in dimensions
and supplied with all the modern improve
ments. Eight dressing rooms and iaya-
tories. handsomely furnished, will afford
all conveniences for the actors. A spien-
did lot of scenery has been prepared by
skillful artists in the modern style to set
off the stage. The auditorium is lighted
by handsome and artistic Finks chande-
lier or double cone reflector of sixty-six
lights. suspended from II dome in the CEN
ire of the ceiling In addition, double
burners are dotted about the house where
ever needed, affording facilities for the
most brilliant illumination. Excellent
arrangements haze been made for venti-
lation, several patent yentilators being
arranged in the ceiling. The heating is
all done by registers placed in different
parts of the house. and supplied from fur
naees on the floor below.
The orchestra and orchestra circle are
laid with handsome wine colored Brussels
carpet, with old go3d borders, and the bal
cony and dress circle with Napier mating.
For the stage there is an elegant reYersi-
BILE carpet, green on one side and red on
the other.
On the opening night, Monday the 18th,
BARLEY Campbell S great play of the
GALLEY SLAVE
iii H., ,,acop+aJ will no Ylrnduan1
with all the wealth of scenery and power
full cast of characters, which, together
with the intrinsic merits of the piece it
self, have made for it such phenomenal
success in the dramatic world
1.-The Galley Slave" is considered not
only Mr.. Campbell's greatest play but one
of the finest melodramas of modern times.
The scene of the play is located in Rome,
Venice and England. Its story is roman
tic and intensely interesting, its tendency
highly moral and sympathetic.
The high reputation which the piece has
achieved ~ our large cities isnot unknown
to our play goeEs here and all will no
doubt be glad of the opportunity of wit
Messing it and judging of its merits for
themselves.
The cast will be precisely the same that
produced the play in New York, of which
the New York Herald thus spoke:
1.-THE curtain rose before, a large and APP
preciative audience at Haverly's theatre
last evening, where the beautiful drama OF
1.-THE Galley Slave" was presented. Mr..
Frederic Brytou, who sustained the char
acter of Sidney Norcott, was well sup
ported by Miss Marjorie Bonner as Cicely
Blaine, Miss Lulu Jordan as Francesca,
Mr.. A. j. Enos as Baron LIE Bots and the
other members of the company. The
pathos, passion and humor OF the piece
were effectively rendered, and the applause
bestowed by the spectators attested the
appreciation of the efforts of the artists.
The setting of the scenic views Of Venice,
Rome, Marseilles and Paris was excellent
and the performance was admirable
throughout
THE SCENIC WORK.
This feature Of the Opera House attracts
the closest attention. not only on account
of its massiyeness and strength, but be-
cause of the wonderful display Of art which
accompanies it. The scenic work has been
done in manner more than creditable to
the high reputation of the famous scene
painters, Messrs. Noxon, Albert & Too
mey, of st. Louis, who personally partc-
ipated in the production of every piece
and supervised the finishing touches in
this city. The extended reputation of
these gentlemen was enough to give prem
| Use of splendid work, but the completion
of their contract here has more than met
the expectation of our people. Mr..
Toomey personally superintendent the en-
tire work, and we are quite sure has but
added to the well earned fame Of his
house.
The stage equipments are complete,
everything being attractive in appearance
and modern in style. There are twelve
complete sets of scenery and eight set
pieces, enough to present any play now