London's Latest Luxurious Enterprise.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 93

London's Latest Luxurious Enterprise.

Dinner, Play, Cards, Dancing.— Among all the wonders that the social vogue of the sta.ge is bringing into being, quite the latest is the Theatre Club, a /remarkable institution which has just been opened in Knightsbridge, London, opposite the barracks. In elegance, exclusiveness,, and cheery activity it bids fair to put every rival into the shade. Indeed, it can hardly be said to have a rival, for it will be the

first club in London to combine a completely equipped priva + <e theatre—capable of accommodating 65f stalls —w ; -tsi; the very highest social, atiiactions. Under the presidency of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ; and will the member ship including peers and peeresses galore, the Theatre Club it pretty sure to outdazzle at once th<. haunts of flashy Bohemians and those mere " talkeetalkee " theatrical clubf. that afford Sunday evening flutters in the West End to middle-class playgoers from suburb and flat. An especial feature of tht membership is the large number of officers of the Navy and of the- Guards and other regiments. A Beautitul Theatre. — Although the decoration of the new club is not yet absolutely complete, the club is already a "going concern," and a Daily Chronicle representativ* who visited it found.it promising to be one of the most delicately-luxurious retreats imaginable. Apart from the really

beautiful theatre —originally a music hall and recently a motor garage —the ch'«f room now is the spacious and deliciOusely restful " green room," draped, in accordance with its name, entirely in a soft dark tint of green. Dotted here and there were inviting lounges, where both ladies and gentlemen might sit and smoke — a privilege which was being taken full advantage of by both sexes. When it is not being used for plays, the theatre can be immediately transformed into a magnificent ball room, concert room, or even shooting gallery! There is besides a palatial dining and supper room, writing room, and card rooms —"all the comforts," in' fact, of the most up-to-date club, with the added interest of actual theatrical production. The Evening's Programme.. —

- Some idea of the delights in store for the fashionable'devotees who are already frequenting these precincts may be gathered from the following official programme of an "average club night," taken from the club's prospectus : —• 8 p.m.—Dinner. ... -_-■-■' . ■,- 9 p.m.—The curtain will go up in the theatre on a, series of four smart and sparkling playlets, presented by the very, best English and foreign artists. 11 p.m. —Light supper will be served in the dining room. -. ■ ■ 11.30 p.m.—Dancing will commence in the great room and theatre.

The prospectus adds that " Saturday and 'Sunday nights' entertainments will

be-a special feature," while "those who prefer bridge to dancing will find congenial company." It is significant that no- one will" be allowed in the club after 8 p.m. who is not in evening drees, except in rooms which will be arranged later on. Applications for membership of the Theatre Club have been tumbling in at the rate of 30 or 40 a day, and more than 60 members have been enrolled. The promoters of the club are, however, determined to keep it rigorously select, and there has been plenty of black-ball-ing. It is a sine qua non for a lady candidate that she should have been presented at court, and the gentlemen's credentials are no less >trictly scrutinised.