THE WELLINGTON OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7796, 16 November 1886, Page 5

THE WELLINGTON OPERA HOUSE.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Monday. The Opera House to be opened by Messrs. McMahon and Leitob, on Wednesday, stands on the Bite of the old bouse burned down in Jane, 1879. It is built of brick, cemented over outside, and covers a space of 180 feet long by 62 feet broad. The stage is 60 feet deep, 59 feet broad, and 70 feet high. The front portion of the building being of less altitude the stage from its great height will be the most commodious and easily worked, from the mechanists' point of view, than any in the colonies. The proscenium opening is 28 feet wide and 26 nigh. Beneath the stage is a concrete cellar, and at the back, divided by a brick wall, are dressing rooms. The proscenium wall is also brick. The auditorium has been earefully designed to give every seat a clear view of the stage, and the architect, Mr. Chatfield, has succeeded admirably. The pit and stalls occupy the ground floor, the former having a capacity of 274, and the latter about 750. The stall seats are iron chairs, of foreign pattern, and the dress circle is provided with chairs of similar design, patented by Mr. Chatfield, and differing somewhat from the American chairs. The cirole, which has accommodation for 202, besides ample standing room, presents a handsome iron front to view, upholstered in stamped velvet, with large mirrors at the end of eaoh side wall. There are no boxes. Above this section of the house is a family circle, a novelty in New Zealand Theatres. It is of less ornamental appearance than the other division, but still more convenient than the pit. The seats are wooden, and the wall panelling is all of painted wood. There is room for 260 people. The auditorium is richly but not overpoweringly decorated, the general result being to give a warm, comfortable appearance. The entrance to the dress circle is through a prettily-decorated saloon, in whioh gold and fawn are the prevailing colours. On either side are cloak-rooms, and in one corner a refreshment bar, where it is proposed to serve tea and coffee. This saloon or foyer covers something like 140 square yards. Leading out of it are esoapedoom into the stall entrance. All the stairs are broad, and have very easy grade. Tha building fronts Manners-street, in which all the entrances are situated, between them being two shops. The total cost, inoluding land, is about £20,000. Everything used in the building that could be possibly obtained in the colony has been manufactured here, even to the chairs. The Woollen Company was asked to supply curtains, but they manifested so much hesitation that the idea had to be abandoned. On Saturday a trial was made of the aeonstic properties of the auditorium, which were found to be excellent. The architect, Mr. Chatfield, besides designing the building, is responsible for nearly the whole of the decorations, which have been executed under his immediate supervision. The new theatre is a striking object from the water, the towering bulk of the stage, which is close to the reclaimed land, being one of the first buildings in the city to catch the eye.