THE ODDFELLOWS' HALL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 11485, 14 September 1889, Page 3

THE ODDFELLOWS' HALL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, --Who is responsible for the accommodation, or rather the want of accommodation, for those taking part in performances at the Oddfellows' Hall? There are three rooms, which (for tho w.ant of more appropriate names) we will call the green-room, the ladies' dressingroom, and the gentlemen's dressingroom.' - ■ The two latter are mere closets, about lOftiby 6ft, each with ono dressing table, one looking-glass, one basin and one light. Last night and on Wednesday thore were over twenty actors, and it was tho greatest scramble to got them ready in time. Besides the actors there were "about ten singers, a dozen bandsmen, and a dozen dressers, all crowded into 'the two littlo dressing-rooms and t^e,, greenroom, The green-room is about 25ft by 12ft, which would be sufficient, if it were not blocked up with big titles and old boxes, and that it would be'sufpeient as a green-room |but it has alsjo.tp servo as a general dressing-room and! a passage. Gentlemen.havo to dress and undress in it under the inspection of a score of ■ onlookers, and subject at any time td ! ladies passing through on their way to or from the stage. Is this respectable ? Is it even decent ? In this green-room there is one gas-jet, one sink, no basin, and one looking-glass. There are no pegs fov hanging clothing on, only a few ruaty nails. Now, as the rent ohafße'd Is '£3 {is per night (gas not in-olUded),-I do think there is just ground for complaint. ' On Wedriesday-'and last night there was. not a square foot on vfhichja.coat- could be laid down without beingi ruined with whitewash and slops. On the stage there is one solitary shelf fOT.putting properties on. Anything required on the prompt side has to be hung up on i the .floor. , The remedy for the w,ant;,of dressing-room accommodation appears to me to bo to build a new green-a'pom oosido the stage, and divide the prespnt grepn-rooin into four or five dressing-rooms, with proper furniture and ;: lighting. ' The new green-room should have a fireplace, and should bo comfortably furnished. A fortnight's re.nfc would pay for all required. If something of the sort is not done, tho OddfejUpws, may make their ininds that, with tho first return of prosperity, they' will see a rival houso erected. Even now they' lose scores of pounds every- j'ear through good oompanies being unwilling to come'Tiere, and. balls and entertainments' boiri'g held in tho other publicroom's where the "accommodation" does not violate i-i 'i l ■■• ' Decency. Wanganui, September 13th, 1880.