A NEW THEATRE FOR AUCKLAND.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4408, 30 September 1871, Page 3

A NEW THEATRE FOR AUCKLAND.

Whenever a dramatic porforntance proraising more than ordinary attractions has been announced to take place at either of our theatres it is invariably the case that they are moat inconveniently ciowded, a sure proof, aa we take it, that we greatly need a building capable of containing a much larger auditory than can find sitting-room at the Prince of Wales or the Theatre Roj al. We will instance the benefit given to Mr. Jones at the former theatre last Thursday night, or we may take any other night for which a good programme has been issued, when we shall not be far out in saying that, had the building contained twice the area for seating people, the house would still have been filled. It is not so much the numbers who go to witness a good performance that have to be turned back, as that people — females particularly — purposely keep away rather than suffer the discomfort and inconvenience of an over-crowded, overheated, and indifferently- ventilated dress circle or stalls. The people of Auckland are not unlike the dwellers in other towns and cities. If they pay for admission into a theatre they expert at least a comfortable ■eat and an unintermpted view of the stage, be the house ever so crowded. Of this at present wo cannot boast. Had we a larger and more commodious theatre we should have better and more attractive performances. "Stars" and popular actors and actresses in the present day demand very high salaries, and these cannot be given unless a theatre, to use a lessee's teim, " will hold the money." If a house will, when full, hold no more than sixty or seventy pounds, and a good company a\ ith one or two stars have to be paid that sum, it i 3 certain that the lessee must cater to the public with a 1000 expensive, and, consequently, an inferior entertainment. What is wanted for the city is a building centrally situated for dramatic and operatic entertainments, sufficiently spacious, well seated, lighted, and decorated, to aid the attractions offered by a talented company. Aud again, dramatic representations are now in a great measure made lo depend on scenic effect, and this demands a stage of much greater depth than that to be found at either of our theatres. Some regard also ought to be paid to those whose means are too limited to occupy the boxes or dress circle, when they dasire to witness a performance. Genoally throughout the colony it is couriered th.it the jut of a theatie should neccssanty be dart, diily, uncomfortable, and below the stage lino of visiou. Elsewhere out of the colony lessees have dis» covered th.it a well-filled pit and. gallery helps to supplement the treasury quite a3 niuoh as do the boxes and the dress circle. We believe that, loo'mig at it from a money point of \tew, a theatre suitable to the iequiremenls of the play-going lesidcnts of Auckland would piove an excellent speculation. And that a much larger aud more convenient tbeatic Oian w& possess at present is greatly needed, there can be veiy few doubts.