THE PRINCESS THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14925, 30 August 1910, Page 6

THE PRINCESS THEATRE

EXTENSIVE INTERNAL REMODELLING. When the Princess Theatre is reopened this evening, after being closed down since ' the 17th hist-., patrons of this popular house of amusement will find that a .remodelling of t-He internal construction has been accomplished in such a manner as to result in. an unobstructed view for practically every person in t.ho building. From an (esthetic point of view' tho alterations effected must be regarded as oven more satisfactory. Where formerly ( six iron posts and wooden girders supported the dress circle and family circle, three steel columns and stout steel girders now serve tho purpose. In the circle one of these columns is placed in the centre of the stairway, and according!* interferes with no one's view, while the other two columns aro so plawl as to stand in tho line of vision of only one occupant of the circle in each instance. The number ,01 supporting columns in tho stalls has been rcduccd from six to three, and this has also j reduced the obstruction there to a minimum. This work has involycd the use of 25 tons of steel, including, girders and columns, and the whole of the material was provided locally. But what will probably create more favourable comment- is the manner in which th© curves of the dress circle and family circle have been altered. Formerly in each there was an/abutment on both sides, and the effect of it was t.o obscure the view of, in the case of the dress circle, (hose who jvere seated at the rear of the stalls) and in the case of the family circle, those -oaicd at tho back. Thesa concave jwrtioiy have been completely removed; and in both dress and family circles the curve has been mads* continuous. The effect is surprising y tine,, and the alterations will very considerably ineroase the good opinions i i? theatre, both by the public and theatrical people. The picture operating box which was located immediately within the circlc, the seats, has -been removed and placed outside the barrier where tho entrance' formerly existed. Instead of one entrance to the dress circle iteelf from the stairway, there- will in future • be two entrances. On each side of the t dress circle a stairway has been constructed so as to givo aoccss to the stalls, and vice versq. In the- family circle a righi-of-way has been made at the rear of the seating, so to permit of jxttrona pawing from one side to the other without hindrance. It is also intended to upholster the seats in this part of tho theatre at an early date. The alterations that have been carried oU'fc have involved a very considerable amount of work, and at limes very delicatp handling was required. Tho reward of the enterprise of Messrs Fuller and of skill dis-. played by Mr H, E, White, who designed and carricd out the whole of tho work, will be the complimentary remarks of natrons. TII3 despatch with whinh ths work has been carried out is probably a record. Shortly after the work was put; in hand the interior of t-he > thsatro was a scene of almost entire desolation, but with practically 50 men working at top pressure daily, under

Jlr H. K White's able direction, a porfcct transformation has been effected in a ro-mark-ably short time. The carrying out o[ the work involved the lifting out of almost. Ihc whole of the seats, carpets, etc., and the repainting of practically tho wholo | of tho interior. I ___ I