The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-08-18
John MA IS MBSA DANGEROUS ASSAULT THEY MAY RACE AGAIN THE NEW OPERA HOUSE
PUTTING FINISHING TOUCHES ON
THE IRWIN GRAND.
Work of Artists and Mechanics-Floor-
Arrangements-Wa for Chairs
Large Amount of Scenery.

Visitors to the new opera house may
now gather some idea of what it will
look like. The exterior is practically
finished, save for additions to the
stairways, a room for the scenery in
the rear and the finishing touches to
the entrances. All of the doors and
windows are in place, and the hand
some ornamentations are on. The big
front door was swung Monday after
On the inside workmen are engaged
noon and is being painted.
principally upon the ceiling and the
galleries. There will be two distinct
galleries, change and improvement
over the old. The first hangs lower
and extends much farther in toward
the stage than the former arrange
ment. The second gallery is high and
extends straight across the house. It
will contain the two-bit seats, and will
be approached from side stairways.
The seating capacity of this part OF
the building will be very large.
The flooring of the pit and dress
circle has been in place several weeks
and now only awaits the chairs. They
are expected every day. The boxes
are simply gems of elegance and con-
venience. They are beautifully orna-
mented and are set back out of the
way of the rear seats. AS before there
are two on each side, though the ca
pacity of each is nearly double. The
ceiling is in rustic checks or squares,
handsomely ornamented. Each square
will have its own chandelier.
There will be no end of scenery.
Mr. Porter said Monday afternoon that
| he had already prepared nearly twice
as much as was in the old theater and
yet could not see the end of his work.
The curtain will be beautiful Vene-
tian scene. though the precise subject
has not yet been chosen. 1t will be
| sufficiently idealistic to please the
most imaginative. A perfect mass of
borders and drops have been pre-
pared. They hang from hundred
ricks above the fly gallery and are OPP
Grated with the ease of twirling a fan.
Every detail is simplified.
In the way of settings complete
departure from the old style is noted
Every scene will be solid. There will
be no sliding out and in of pieces, leav-
ing ugly gaps and glimpses of bare
walls or settings here and there. A
parlor scene, for instance, will begin
on one side of the stage and end on
the other. The side walls will extend
unbroken from front to rear When
doors appear they will be backed by
bright Railways or other appropriate
scenery beyond. The same rule will
apply to the rear of the scene. There
will be happy, unbroken continue
ton, accurately portraying the scene
it is desired to bring out.
These scenes will each contain four
teen pieces. all fitted like the parts of
| - '''''' -'ohN SupJNtiS nave I"-tu
prepared. There are half dozen for
est scenes. others of the sea, noun
tains. jagged passes, streams and
bridges. prisons. wharves, depots, par
Tors, gardens and many others. In
door and outdoor subjects: cloud and
light, and snow and sunshine effects,
scenery to meet almost any sudden
demand, all of the finest workman
ship.
The bridge TO be used in rock pass
or stream scenes is the pride of Stage
Carpenter Abrams. 1t is in three sec
tions and runs on perpendicular
framework from below. Thus an oval,
straight or dipping bridge can be
made in few seconds. In fact almost
any shape can he reached by careful
arrangement of the parts. The sec
tions of the bridge are so laid in the
stage as to he out of the way when
not in use.
Mr.. Porter's work of preparing seen
cry will go on perhaps several months.
The opening of the opera house about
the first of October will not interfere
with him at all. He has a large num-
Der of ideas yet to be put on canvas.
What he has done has more than
pleased his employers. II will please
the public more.