Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-22
THE new NATIONAL rnEArn.
l. Model Theater Promised by the Ar.
chfteet-The Decorations Of the I'm.
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= Model Theater Promised by the Ar.
chftect-The Decorations Of the In.
terror.
For the third time since 1858 MI. Rapley IL
rebuilding the National Theater. Each new
structure has been an Improvement upon It's
predecessor. The building now being COM
pleted has been carefully designed with view
OF comprising in II all the modern improve
ments in theatrical architecture Mr.. j. b. Nc
Elfatrick, the architect, has promised Mr.. Rap
ley that his theater will be model in every
respect. The building in itself, on account Of
its height and width will be among the most
striking and notable edinces, factng Pennsyl-
Yanis avenue Within the structure scores of
workmen are rapidly pushing the work In the
ium has been made larger than that OF the Old
theater, and the seating capacity increased to
1900. The stage has been widened and mode
has been taken to make the lines such that
there will not % bad seat in the house. or any
sss Wh tSe M no:
the doubtful seat" said Mr.. Rapley, taking a
STAR reporter through labyrinth OF timbers
in the orchestra circle next TO The partition
dividing on the private boxes. "But you see
there vim b no trouble about thi. seat" The
the whole of the front Of the stage, ana nearly
all it, depth. The galleries have been CON.
Of taxing 81 Sssp
horse shoe, the fronts OF the galleries, describe
q semi-circie, with the stage as it, ceuter. This
arrangement which not only incrsssss the seat
ing. capacity, but II very much liked by actors
and Others who appear on the stage, and Is bet
THE INTERIOR DECORATIONS
The theater will be furnished and decorated
in q style in keeping with the character, which
the architect intends IL to have, Of Q model
theater. The entrance from the street or vesti-
bule will be finished in white and black Ten
nessee marble. This entrance viii be thirty feet
house ID addition to this entrances, however err
provision has been made sor two large exit
doors on each side OF the auditorium besides the
interior, the woodwork, frescoing and uphols.
tering will be rich, and in character with the
Mr. Alfred A. Prail. o., Of ST. Louis, Who makes q
speciality OF ornamental woodwork Of theaters,
and is now just completing the interior OF the
part the work the 70
reporter Mr.. Prall said the chief points to be
reg , in designing decorations for thsates
were what the eyes OF the people naturally
turned to, when not looking upon the stage.
the boxes ' and the ' prosce cent arch.
The general style followed IL that Of
the modern renaissance and the dec
with 1t. There will be four boxes ON each side,
SO arranged that they may be divided, making
eight compartments or boxes in all. The lower
boxes will be supported by richly carved and
decorated columns, with ornamental caps. The
supports for the upper boxes will be caryatids
half life size. In front Of the boxes will be pro-
jecting balconies, and the whole will be sur
mounted by a projecting canopy. Upon this
canopy will be an elabOrAtely carved pediment,
with two reclining female figures, classcally
nude. The two figures on one side of the house
will represent music and art, and those on the
other tragedy and comedy. The center prosce-
MUM arch will be decorated in bold relief, with
shields, armor and scroll work, combined
in rich design. The fronts of the galleries
will be deliberately carved with decorations en-.
tlematic of music and drama.
HOW WORK IS PUSHED IN AMERICA.
"One trouble in making a theater in this coun-
try said Mr.. Prall to THE STAR reporter, ais
that everything must be completed at a certain
date. Theaters must be erected and completely
finished between seasons. In Europe the build
ing is not completed until the work IL done.
That is, the work is given out, and the time Of
opening the theater depends upon the time that
may be required to do the work, We do work
here in three months that would not be COM
pleted in two years there. I had Frenchman
working for me some time ago, q wood carver,
and when had made out the designs for a
theater showed them to him. He shrugged his
and said, That ees big Job. 1t will
take two years. Not In this country I said;
that work will have to be done In three months
and 1t was done in that time"