The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-01
NOVELTY AT CRESCENT PARK
A Floating Theater In Which Popular
Comic Opera VIII Be Presented.

There will be a floating theater at
Crescent Park this season, and popular
comic operas will be presented under the
direction or ID. w. Reeves. The stran ge
craft sailed from Boston yesterday morn
ing and when II arrives will be moored
in the cove al Crescent Park, just south
OF the foot bridge, and near where the
ship Pinafore was moored last season.
This theater, which was built in Bos-
ton about year ago at cost Of more
than $50, COO, has been secured by Manager
Boyden Tor the coming season after long
and expensive negotiations, an1 ii Is
expected it will prove the most unique
and strongest attraction ever presented
TO the public at New England shore re-
sort.
The vessel is know as the Barge Colum-
bia and Is so registered at the Boston cus-
tom house, where her tonnage is named
as So3.9S The Columbia Is 1e9-feet in
length and 60 feet wide, the depth of the
hold Is IL feet and she will draw, when
every seat ia filIed, about 40 inches OF
water. Below the deck there are 20 COM
modious and elegantly appointed dress
ing rooms for members of the company.
Aboveithe deck stands the theater prop
er. structure 80 feet in length and 40
feet In width, and 35 feet In height. The
stage is 45x3S feet, equipped with full
sets o. scenery, properties and every ac-
cessory for the production of almost any
opera and any ordinary dramatic attrac-
ton. The theater is lighted throughout
by electricity, the electrollers in the
auditorium belng of very handsome des-
igns especially made for this house. From
the hoor TO the ceiling the distance is 35'
feet and the floor Is so inclined and the
arrangement of the seats is such tlfat'there
Is not one scat in the house which does
not command perfect view of the stage.
AT the rear end Is a balcony of very artis-
tic horseshoe share, with seating accom-
modations for 3I6 people, and even the
last tier OF seats at the rear of this
balcony may fairly be- said TO be desira bic
both for seeing and hearing.
On each side ot the stage are two boxes.
seating respectively six and four persons,
and SO shaped as to command an excellent
view OF the stage. The seats throughout
the thea:er are opera chairs Of more than
ordinary width and exceedingly comfort
able and OF handsome designs. There are
s36 OF these in the orchestra and parquet,
making the total seating capacity Of the
house l240, which Is considerably in ex-
cess OF that OF the aver ge city theater.
The interior decorations are suggestive
in many respects of those of Keith's
theater, being in white and gold and rich
and delicate tints. The decorations alone
cost several thousand dollars. Five large
ventiiators in the monitor-shaped root OF
the theater insure abundsnt supply of
pure air all the time, while extending
around the whole house ere colured glass
windows, which may also be used for
ventilation, and which in their handsome
tints and designs add materially 10 the
beauty OF the thester. six tall Asgstaffs
surmount the roof, and there Is abundant
space for artistic decoration by flags
and bunting In the daytime, and by elec-
trio lights by night, ON the exterior OF
the theater The entrances 10 the theater
a Vna auf MI ~ =
large wide doors, and the aisles are
straight and wide, so tbat the entire
house may be emptied in probably about
two minutes w.thoat any confusion
whatever.
Those who have seen the theater seem
to be able to ind no words enthusiastic
enough TO describe their admiration of
its beauties and their unbounded surprise
at its completeness in every detsil, both
In front of and behind the curtain; and
II may safely be said that very few city
theaters are batter equipped in every es-
sentiai Tor the comfort, entertainment
aud convenience OF its patrons than this
unique Floating Palace Theater.
Manager Boycen's plans for the coming
season are not yet ready to make public in
detail; but 1t can be stated that light opera
VIII be the attraction, and that 1t will be
produced, as was "pinafore," under
the direction of Mr.. ID. w. Reeves. who
II.
Gilbert, one of the best known stage
managers In this country, whose work
in staging the recent Brown opera end
the famous Jheatricals at Harvard College
have given an idea of his ability and long
experience.
Nj. Gilbert is now busily at work get
ting together company, under the di-
rection OF Mr.. Reeves. which ii is prom
ICED shall far suprass in ability as Ii will
also In numbers, The excellent organize-
tion which presented "Pinafore'' last sea-
son. Several contracts have alreauy heen
made: but il is impractiea ble yet TO make
any public announcement of them, hough
it may be said that they include several
artists Of wide reputation and great popu-
larity Throughout the country, whose !
names in themselves Will be a guarantee !
OF the general excellence of the com
pany. The chorus will be made up from
the best voices of some of the light opera |
companies OF the past season, and will |
be large and efic ent in every particular. |
The company will report at Crescent |
Park about the middle of June for re- |
bearsals; and two weeks of the hardest |
kind OF work will be put In under the |
direction OF Mr.. Gilbert ard Mr.. Reeves,
who viii be ably assisted by Mr.. McCabe |
in the work of drilling the chorus, whicn |
he did with such signal success last year |
Manager Boyden when questioned said |
that eli he conld say now was that the at |
traction would as lar surpass "Pinafore'
as VIII the Folating Palace Theater, the
somewhat rude though picturesque vessel |
upon which that opera was given last
summer.
The orchestra will be considerably
larger. than Inst season; and il is stated |
hat no expense or pains Will be spared
TO make the operatic season at Crescent
Park the greatest event of its kind ever
attempted ct any resort in New Eulgand.