The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-17
Providence Opera House
Thoroughly Redecorated.
Description Of the Changes Wrought
Since the Theater Was Closed.
The Fine Rill At Rocky Point and
Westminster rheater.


apropos.
II is 20 be naturally expected that when
this popular theater is thrown open 10
the public again a week from next Mon
day marked improvements VIII greet
the eve because manager Morrow has
made n n rule ever since the house was
dedicated December g, 1871, TO have IL
thoroughly renovated yearly. Nobody
can have any conception, however, OF the
extent or utility of the radical changes
which have been going forth for the past
two weeks and Will continue until the
Saturday before the opening. Large
forces OF mechanics, decorators, furnish
ers, etc., are busily employed, and these
include the best talent TO te obtained,
in Transforming the old house into a
"thing OF beauty" Beginning with the
exterior, all the BRICK work VIII be re-
newed by a special cleansing process; the
first story front, which was painted
white, will be repainted brick color, TO
correspond with the rest OF the struc-
ture; the doors and surrounding wood
work will be artistcially grained ana
otherwise made attractlvei the large
arched window sash over the main doors
will be stained 10 coincide with the free
stone trimmings all the iron work Is oe-
ing painted black, except the beautiful
lamposts In front OF the entrance, which
will be bronzed 10 look like new. The
large Illuminated sign, reading opera
leaf as II originally was, at big ex-
pensc.
Entering the lobby, one will be struck
by a harmonious coloring OF walls and
ceiling, combined with the gold bronze
relief OF the iron work and the "spicky-
spani shininess of the woodwork, which
has been thoroughly scraped, puttied,
stained and vanished. Once inside the
fheater itself, which was always attrac-
tive because of its artistic architectural
proportions and lines, complete meta
morphosis, which would have seemed
almost impossible, will at once attract
Every chair In the theater has been
bronzed in light gold and repainted; so
have the balcony fronts; and wherever
an Objectionable tint appeared IN the old
work IL has been eradicated and harmo-
MIXING eofef supplemented even the
brackets supporting the balconies were
neglected, and a rich, warm red diffuses
itself charmingly amid sea OF gold, the
rillars supporting the balconies also have
received bright coat OF the golden
sunshine.
Perhaps the most noticeable change
which will first strike the eye is that
made in the boxes. Here the decorators
art eliminates in q combination of lus-
trous and beautiful coloring into which,
in every detail, nothing that could pos
sibly offend the most sensitive organism
was allowed to creep. New draperies,
fresh from the drapers' shelves, adorn
the boxes and new Administer carpets OF
rich wine color, with small buff figures,
cover the floors. In fact through the
lower part OF the house, the same kind OF
carpeting invites the foot to try its tex
lure and softness. Upstairs, a mottled
velvet carpet will be laid throughout.
In the gallery, as well as In the hall
way leading to 1t, decided change for
the better is noted. 1t has an air OF
cleanliness lacking in this portion OF
most playhouses. The walls and ceilings
have been done over in yellowish buff
toned, with orange tints, and the stairs
and other woodwork thoroughly reno
waited and vanished. Even the seats in
the gallery have been ''put through a
course OF sprouts" and 1t is unlikely
that the ordinary gallery god, can lind
IL in his heart TO mar them in his en-
thusisastic appreciation OF the stage per-
formance
Speaking of the stage recalls some meri-
torious improvements not TO be over
looked. Everything here will be as new
as the painter and whitewasher can make
il. In addition to this a new marble
switch board has been put in to control
the lights and light effects, as well az
other electrical apparatus contingent to a
first class stage. This switchboard is
something new, there being none like IL
in this country, and it was conceived and
introduced by Harry Wright, Mr.. Nor
rows electrician, and il was put In in ac-
cordance with the rules OF the New
England Board Of Fire Underwriters. 1t
is larger than the ordinary and contains
every modern Improvement in electrical
engineering.
Besides the changes noted, every other
part of the house will be repainted and
decorated. Many patrons of the Opera
House have heretofore had no knowledge
of the ladies' room, rear of the first
IoI<s k.st her.. "a M al
that as well as the one downstairs viii be
found 20 be attractively painted, decor
ated and carpeted. The gentlemen
smoking room has not been overlooked,
either. and IL has been made TO look like
new and win prove to be an attractive
resting place.
The only portion OF the house which
Manager Morrow would not have changed
was the large circle in the ceiling of the
auditorium. This ceiling Is work OF arr
and has been much admired ever since
Marsden introduced the figures which
were painted outside the circle.
Mr.. Morrow never goes back on a good
workman, so he has decorator ID. +.
Logan doing the clancy" with IL men
working for him, and the exterior
painting is being done by Fisher a. Grin
nell, "Bill' Murray leading the van.
The attractions 20 be presented at the
Providence Opera House next season are
fact, II Is the best prospectus OF any one
theater in the United States. IL combines
all the leading stars and companies which
will play in New York or Boston.
The season opens Monday, Aug. 20, with
May Irwin in John j. McNallys new
play, "Widow jones' next comes Ca
mile D'Aryille in two operas. Other
drawing cards TO appear during the sea.
ton are the following: Irving and Terry,
Fanny Davenport, Olga Nethersole, sold
Homestead" the Bostonians, Dew Woli
Hopper, "Daven Hendersor's American
Extravaganza, Julia Marlowe, Hoyt''
"Milk White Flag "Black Sheep
"Shore Acres" +" Little Christopher. Jr. ,
Sothern. Daniel Frohman's Lyceun
Theater Stock Company first time here)
Robert q. Ingersoll, "The Founding
(made famous by Cissy Fitzgerald), eth
Brownies" Courtney Thorpe, "i492.
Thomas ". Keene, Sol Smith Russell
'sThe Masqueraders," ''Sowfnr "A IN
wind,r Edward Harrigan, Salvini
James O'Neil, Lewis Morrison, Franz
Mayo I'm "Puddin head wilson" "Th
Fatal Card, - Kellar, Sandow. "The Cit
OF Pleasure" Nat &. Goodwin, Gilbert
new opera HHis Exccllcncy" $50 people