The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-06
DEVOTED TO DRAMA.
The New Theater Opened With
Fine Performance.
THE PEOPLE WHO WE'RE THERE.
.Goy.-Eiect McGraw Makes the Dedica-
tory Address-How tho Opera
went-A Brilliant Scene.

u
as thoroughly representative an audience -
lever assembled in the city. The house was
lfaished according to promise, with the excsp-
yfiou Of some few details. and IN: per
iformance went rs smoothly as though
tartists, s.age-hands aud management were al as
familiar with the building as though it had
tbeen in use for year, while the absence of 6if-
.ieuities with the machinery attested the caro-
with which it had been Sc. up. The 1880 people
who thronGed the building went homo pleased
with creditabie performance and proud that
the city at last has theatcr in which the best
land largest organizations in the country have
ample space and facilities 20 display their
lpowers.
Never did thea:er look gayer. The audience
was as much worth going 10 see rs the opera 10
hear. Every box was flied by party of the
city's leading people, and every seat from floor
TO ceiling was occupied. The women were ell
atsired for a grand junction aud the bright col
of their costumes, the sparkle OF their jewels
and the still brighter sparkle OF their eyes under
the stimulus OF pleasure enhanced their charms
and unclaimed the attention OF their own and
one anothers escorts. The simplicity OF the
evening dress in which nearly all of the men in
the boxes and parquct were attred threw their
fair companions into the more brilliant relief
by contrast. Opera glasses were occasionally
leYeled by one at another to make sure of bis
identity and smiles and glances OF recognition
were frequently exchanged.
Z The beautiful house was all the raore highly
appreciated for having been so long hoped for,
aud oil joined in its praises 1T certainly justi-
ned the expectations of those who had put into
the enduring form OF brick and stone the ideal
which its architect, Charles W. Saunders, had
laid before them paper, and there were
scarcely any three happier men in the house
than George II. Hebron, j. d. Lowman and
u. A. Noble. They enjoyed the pleasure OF hay-
Ing succeeded where many had attempted, while
those around them praised their work.
The intervals between acts were made good
use OF by the audience in studying the decora-
tions and the general design of the house. and
the feature which excited the most favorable
comment was the profuseness yet good taste
with which electric light had been used. rs
pure white glow seemed to seek out all the hid
den beauties and to bring them into relief by
the shadow which IL threw on the surround
tngs. More particularly was this noticeable in
the sounding board Its border was Respondent
with the lights, which formed al essential part
OF Its ornamentation, and tho diagonal lines OF
lamps running its moulded ribs threw
upon them alternate light and shadow s.rik-
ing in their effect. The bulis-cyes on the bal
cony sh0ne with fiery but soitaned glare to re-
veal the graceful outlines OF the rhododendron
flower and its wreathed foliage winding among
them. The rich warm terra Gotta OF the plastic
work on the walls and pillars was in happy
contrast to the gilt and silver with which the
balcony, boxes and sounding board were
touched up, and the eye wandered with gratlfi-
catcn to the lighter coloring OF the side walls.
The study of the drop curtain also occupied
many pairs of eyes. and the representation of
the Venetian pleasure party gliding over the
placid water oil the Adriatic, called to mind some
what similar yet in most respects very different
scenes on n summers day on the Sound or Lake
Washington. The painting has as not the least of
a hr inc IN ind
the former mistress OF the sea in the old world
ana the possibility that Seattle may become the
mistress OF a new sea IN the new world.
The women delighte in the convenience of a
parlor set apart for them and for the first time
In many years they appeared without bonnets,
TO the great relief of those who have risked dis
locating their necks in the effort to peep around
female headgear to catch glimpse of the play
Long suffering man owes this reform to the ex-
lstence OF cloakroom III connection with the
ladies' parlor in which the costume OF the street
can be discarded for that OF the theater. The
step from one row of seats to another is so high
however, that il is possible that men may b.
able 10 see over the top of any mere two-story
hat without enduring any serious discom-
Tort, and for this they may thank the
tnoughttUlness of the theater company and its
architect. Tho foyer, being novelty TO Seattle
theater goers snte the fire, also attracted large
number of the men from their seats between
acts who have not been in the habit of leaving
them under the old order of things the man
who went out between acts having been hitherto
suspected of having definite liquid object in
view. The men strolled out to the foyer and
from there to The smoking room, where they in
dulged their passion for the noxious weed and
exchanged gossip on the house. the audience
the opera and one another.
Manager John W. Hanna fairly outCid him
self ia the care he took that everything should
- smOothty IL " a. in Al bY-
naturally So. for he is the manager of the best
theater III the best townful OF theater goers on
the Coast. aud now he has an opportunity of
showing what he can do. He knows that he can
meet the expectations OF his patrons and he
waa well satisfied with the beginning he had
made. as he well might be- He had a large
corns az ushers and had given them such pre-
hminary drilling to famIliarize them with the
house that they took reGdii Y 10 their work
ne overture was Just over when Hon. John
II. McCitaw stepped on the STAGE and uoiselessIv
took his place before the drop curtain. He was
just about To begin his speech and thus stave
ct any demonstration, when applause broke
out In all pasts OF the house and continued so
long that he had 10 pause until it subsidized
Then ne sAid,
ladies and GegfiC;4rR: The opening and deti.
Gallon 81 "a new nome OF the drama III this city
Is an event IN which our people have a ieep in
Ie;c,t. Never has there peea Il time when The
staEe has welded more potent influence for
eoot or FOR evil than i, Yields t,dav. The
thought aad fancy Of the past have paid their
spieu9id tribute 10 the drama, and the theater-
goer OF the present may look upon characters
who, UDccuscsOusly, perhaps. - those who
create ihrln, represent the best thought OF sAe
dTamgit~ts 81 IL nations ami ages.
Never before ass tae drama reached a zre.ter
proportion o. the people taan 81 0ols today
Never has rs influence sprcSl further or more
widely. IL hiss attained an emirenco which ,ys
can fully understand only whea we roIncra her
thai tue ieEi'imsIs drama az today stands 10.
tie EeUlus ~ Hn immortal ShaNCspLaVc
Judging ~ by knowledge % Si.tS naon'e in
the past snd by the auGieu before mo tonight
composed. a. u $, III thu intelligence and
cusfGrc al car community. Zee. safe in saving
that the icausf.c destluy OF this fair voy;rlr a ~
ID assured. IhSt such p-0rle take All active Ia
terast IA the pgG.iC aJauze meats afforded tv the
opera ana drama argues well. Tor. q. tire strsAf,
,sSnuUt rise hgbcr Khan SIS source neither can
the drama rise above tho tastes al! require
ElSut4 OF the pubic that supports IT, So, Ii tina
pUSigC demand and WIZ nOt be satisfied WITH
SaSthipg less than the best EuG the unrest IN
tue dramatic act tae lusnaker, who Simply
eaters 70 fao popI.ar tlcSsrea. Will lie coupes,ed
10 present only 'hAt which Is para and elcvsIsus
IN It's character.
Tae people OF Seattle will. am sure. eucopr-
axe oiN taa uct-4st worAs OF the drama. lat
sGG thus &c their fuil share toward eiev.tiap
ihe pooiie taste e. ths point 81 Demanding tue
production nj th~sn n.a. Nigeent Wur@a Of
geaius wateh alone are worthy ot this bright
and attractive nOuSs OF Amusement
waht - congratulate our fCop.e upoa thrtr
Cood ioTtune IN - last securing ta.s beautiful
ficatsT. 10 hic3 their ioyai support .! thestsce
uucer most adverse c.rg GIastsuces l0ar since
entitled tnesl
No one who has long been "a res dent o! seat.
lie caa fail 20 gScSA - mind 90 th4s SION
ms tosSsrE homes 81 the legitimate trs-as nf
shis citx. We caanot bat thirk 81 Ycs,s. : fs.
vllon. modest bssidtag. originally erected Tor
ten oFaIy nari1se, Il y a. ter many wears the