The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-11-07
OPENING Of
AUDITORIUM
LAST NIGHT
LARGE AUDIENCE ATTENDED
PRESENTATION OF THE R0.
SARY" AT NEW THEATER

Perhaps the largest audience ever
assembled TO witness a theatrical
performance in Lakeland turned out
l.st niah, 10 be present ut the open
Ing bill of tho Auditorium, the offer
ing on the occasion being an eN-
cellrn, production ol the beautiful
drama The Rosary.
This was the first opportunity the
people OF Lakeland enjoyed of in
specting the magnificent new play
house which has just been completed,
which has the largest seating ca
p,sctiy OF any building in the state.
and which would do credit to Il city
0. 5000 Inhabitants. In every re-
speei il measure up 10 the cNpec-
fations OF all. no matter how highly
pitched misht have been their an
ticipa ions N architectural s,r@nsth
ana beauty, Ia cle aneo ol !in!ah, IN
,2ntaan eapae.ty, acoustic lrop-
cr;.... .ad 4ra,ral arranGcm"ll,
sus,, son lor improvement col!d
10, 81 iy be offered, and the i'm
rcn.c crowd CONSTITUTING tli"
"aoaseWarmins party came, saw
a,d approved.
\ pleasing incident Oh the o.
rIsion oc, urred just before the cur
tain rose ior the performance, when
Hon. II. j. nranc, in brief but very
eloquent and appropriate address, on
lchalf of the proprictors ana the
management, welcomed the people 81
Lakeland to their new playhouse,
and smoke some words of commcnda-
ton of the enterprise that had made
this splendid building possible. lie
dwelt particularly on the TACT th2t
the Auditorium project wVs from III
coption to finish, carried out ~
Lakeland people. Financed py
Lakeland citizens, planned by
Lakeland architect, supervised III It's
construction by IA Lakeland building
superintendent, its curtains an
scenery painted by Lakeland ar
tist. the artisans and mechanics
Lakeland men, in the employ OF Il
Lakeland firm OF contractors, the
nuilding is distinctiNely and pecu
liarJy a home enterprise He cltci
The dimensions and SEATING caDacit'
Of the greatest theatres IN the Worl"
those of London, Paris and Ne"
York ranging from a capacity ol
.,lOO persons TO 500, and snow
ino that Lakeland with IA building
OF a capacity of 1000, had III
proportion to the size OF the
city. a theatre that dld IL as
much credit rs any OF the great
buildings mentioned did their re-
srectiye cities. He touched casual
ly upon the history of the drama. in
Producing some thoughtful obscrH-
vations on the Shakesperian contrl-
buttons to dramatic literature. MI.
Drane's remarks were given close
attention and were literally aI-
plauded
The presentation CT The Ro5-
ary," was pronounced b. many the
best theatrical performance that has
been witnessed in Lakeland. The
play itself is pure and wholesome
conveying good moral Impressions
and leaving the spectator better for
Having witnessed it. Add to TINS
that it was presented by real ar
lists, who displayed none OF the
crudities of the amateur, SO often
witnessed on the small city stage,
and il is not to be wondered at that
the general expression concerning
the performance is one of enthuslas-
tic commentator. While the story
is deeply emotional, at times vcrginS
Oh the tragic, there is much reileV-
ing humor and the lighter parts
were filled in such d manner that
tic audience frequently was con-
yGlsed with laughter. The charact-
rr of the Catholic priest wac imper-
sonated in a faithful and true-to-
life manner, exceptional ability be-
ing exhibited in Tho carrying out OF
this leading role But evary per-
former was worthy OF plact in this