OPERA HOUSE REDECORATED

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 3 May 1934, Page 2

OPERA HOUSE REDECORATED

INFLUENCE OF EGYPTIAN ART. GALA OPENING TO-MORROW. Haw-era theatre-goers Avill scarcely recognise the interior of the Hawera Opera House to-morroAV (Friday) e\-en-'.ug, when this popular home of entertainment re-opens its doors to a gala performance. Gone are red mural corations and the ponderous opal anct slate gas cliandalier which did service and avus the source of Avonder ami admiration for many years before the advent of electricity. Gone, too, are the heaA'y Empire proscenium scroll and gilt inscription “To hold as T’were the Mirror up to Nature,” which epitomised Shakespeare’s influence in the early development of theatrical art, and no Longer are to be seen the supporting plaques of gilded, cberubims. With all these “homely” features characteristic of the old Opera House still fresh in one’s mind, to-day’s interior presents an amazing,contrast. The definitely old have been replaced by all that is definitely new. Full advantage has been taken of the 14 days during Avliicli the theatre lias been closed to ornamentally transform the Avhole of the auditorium, and a small army of some 40 or more workmen, including decorators, artisans aim electricians. liaA-e toiled day and night to produce the desired effect in the' mind of the artist-designer (Mr H. J. Dreyfeklt) and also to meet the iequirements. structurally, of the architects, Messrs Duffill and Gibson. As theatre architecture and decoration is a. tiling apart from the ordinary, it was necessary to bring together a body of men talented in this direction, hut where possible employment has been given' to local tradesmen and, in -nidi tion, a considerable sum of money has been spent locally m the purchase ol material®. The theatre is one of the few remaining wooden buildings of .its kind in New Zealand and is highly esteemed for its comfort and aecbu=. tie properties. Built some 30 or 40 \ r ears ago many magnificent spectacles have been presented to admiring audi ences in the intervening years. Many famous__ personages, including Royalty and artists at the top of their profes sion, have appeared before its foot lights, and in recent years it has seen the transition of entertainment from, the silent film to the “talkie.” The scheme of ornamentation can ho asci-ibed to no definite l period, either past or futurist, although the influence of Egyptian art is strongly in evidence in the treatment of The Avails an cl ceiling. Entering downstairs it will be seen that tne Avails are noAV coa-erect in craftex and treated in silver to the daclo line land in. a delightful huff shade to a deep frieze of turquoise blue ancl. tiny points of brilliant colour. Above thisjthe buff walls merge info the eoA-od ceiling, the flatness of Avliich has been broken most effecti\-cly by the artistic decoration of the cross members and several brick-coloured, grills recessed in ooA'es of turquoise blue. These grills have 7>eon fretted beautifully and the pattern is thrown into relief I>a’ a blue light, w'hieh filters through when the theatre is in darkness. The side columns have been treated to gn-e them a granite-like appearance with bronze capitals surmounted by novel and distinctly Egyptian lan terns which shed red and blue points of light through the fretwork. The proscenium. opening, once adorned in heavy Empire style, is almost severely plain jn its utra-modern treatment, relieved onlv by tall bronze pillars lon either side.

Upstairs the full beauty of the newceiling is apparent with its mural and panel /effects and Ejgyptian colour scheme of .sharp contrasts. Illumination is proA-ided by' a number of an. gular inverted opal and gilt bovA'ls and by a series of wall fixtures of opal glass and gilt frames designed to spread the light fauAvise aboA'e and below on the Avails.

The soahno- upstairs provides almost luxurious comfort, all the chairs being of a de luxe type, fully sprung and upholstered in fawn and brown Genoa velvet. The carpets and stair runners are of an all-over pattern in colours to tone. Downstairs the seats are highhacked and finished in red Rex leather. In the main vestibule the walls are treated in old gold, the floor in a futur-ist-patterned cork linoleum and the lighting diffused through amber shades. Both .side vestibules are also mujcsi improved. Lighting plays an important part in every theatre, especially for stage performances, and in the Opera House one of the largest switchboards pro cur able has been installed to accommodate all the leads. Provision is made for !the automatic dimming of the house light at the commencement of each perfoi mance and for colour illumination. < Besides the rewiring of the auditorium/ the' dressing room lighting has been modernised and the footlights placed on new circuits. In conversation with a “Hawera Star" reporter yesterday, Mr Jroyfeldt said, that he had closely examined the ceiling before (undertaking the renovations jmd he was of the opinion that Hawera possessed a. safer theatre than many of the modem city structures. The Opera House ceiling was moulded in wood and was an amazing piece of work. It incorporated features which rendered it entirely earthquakeresisting, which was more than could be said of some of the recently-built theatres in other parts of the Dominion. For the gala ■performance to-morrow the Opera. House will screen (MetroGold wyn-Mavor’s Dancing. Lady,” which lias hist concluded an extended season in 'Woffington, .