The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-12-21

the sky line of the front being brOk-
en- by raised curves in the familiar
modern English style, not yet common
| in America, but in this case I'M
commonly effective in producing q
pleasing and harmonious result. A
double and single store rooms occupy
the first floor and the basement furn-
ishes another fine room.
The entrance is at the rear of the
building, from the walk on the side
street, a broad stone arch covering a
! flight of stone steps leading to a
further stair case of impoSingadimen-
sions. The vestibule is large and
roomy-it would be difficult to crowd
| it. Directly in front is the box Office
and managers room, which may Dc
used as cloak room. The entrance
to the theatre is through two wide
doorways, to broad and satisfying
foyer from either side OF which grace.
full stair cases lead to the balcony and
gallery, though to the latter entrance
may be had from the veStibule direct.
The effect on the eye from the en-
trance is very grateful. The decora-
ti0ns of the ceiling below the balcony
are tasty and restful-light tints, in
which light blue predominates, its
| figures prominent enough to satisfy
the eye when cast upon them, and yet
not so prominent as to force attention
| to them.
The main body of the house above
and beyond the balcony is done IN
terra Gotta tintS, strong in color i'm
mediately above and to the side Of the
prOscenium arch, shading as the
| figure moves backward to the lighter
shades. The cOlOrS are warm and
comfortable, and the designs in con-
ventiOnal forms.
The structure and decoration OF the
proscenium is on the Moorish order,
the columns and the arches sur
mounting being fair samples OF that
style. The general effect of the pros
cenium is very pleasing, though the
intense white of the columns forces
them into perhaps unnecessary proml-
nence, by contrast. The festOons OF
the entablature are in olive and gold.
The balcony ''circle" is square. di-
rectly fronting the stage, short but
graceful curves leading the arch
around to the proscenium, ending
with TWO small boxes on either side,
above a single box on either side on
the dress circle floor.
This hasty and imperfect descrip-
ton gives but faint idea of the real
beauty of the hOuse-fOr it is beauti-
full. The lines of its structural parts
are graceful, its interior design is
modern in every way, and its decora-
tions, seats and carpetings luxurious
and handsome. The impression one
at once receives as he steps within the
entrance doors is that he is standing
within a modern metropolitan city
theatre, and as it will easily seat
/, 200 people, it is not small house, by
any means.
We have no measurements or the
stage, but it is probably larger than
our own. The drop curtain that
hides it from view is decorated with a
charming picture of company of roll
licking peasantry-an exceptionally
fine piece of drop-curtain painting.
The house has some thirty or more
sets of scenery and drops-ample ac-
the usual array of properties which
properly belong to a tlrst-class Snland
city theatre. The total cost of the
building is about $4,000, and the
money has been judiciously spent.
The opening was not so largely at
tended as we had expected, the sub
scription committee having, we UNI
derstand, stopped the work when a
considerable portion of the house had
been sold, netting liberal sum, yet
| in measure soaring off those Of lesser
purses who will all be out tonight,
when regular prices take the place of
substitution rates. The house, how
ever. was well filled both below and
in the balcony, which has the opera
chairs like the first floor, but the gal
lery gods" were not out.