Royal Victoria Theatre: Description of Renovations

Royal Victoria Theatre.—This fine building
is now completed, and will be opened this evening,
for the first time, under the combined management
of Messrs Lazar and Coppin, who have engaged it
from the proprietor, Mr Emanuel Solomon, for
three years, at 500l per annum. The front is
adorned with Ionic pillars, surmounted with the
Royal Coat of Arms, a beautiful specimen of
English manufacture, measuring seven feet by five
feet, which is placed in bold relief over the front
entrance. The entrance to the dress circle is a
facsimile to that of the Princess's Theatre, London,
beautifully papered all round, and includes two
flights of stairs that lead to a magnificent lobby, 36
feet by 16 feet, intended exclusively for ladies as a
withdrawing and promenading hall. The interior
of the Theatre surpasses anything of the kind in
the Australian colonies, both in design and execu
tion, and the several departments are of gigantic
dimensions. The whole length is 140 fee ; breadth
34 feet; and height 50 feet; and the boxes[---],
including; six private boxes with private en
trances. The pit is a vast space with close seats,
capable of accommodating an immense concourse
of people. Besides the compartments alluded to,
there are the following rooms attached:—Gentle
men's saloon, 36 feet by 16 feet; two rooms for
ladies to retire, 18 feet by 13 feet each; green
room, 35 feet by 21 feet; storeroom; females'
dressing-room; men's dressing-room; property
room; and wardrobe-room. The stage measures
74 feet by 34 feet 6 inches, and is well supplied
with drop, scenes, and other necessary parapher
nalia. The proscenium is both expansive and
magnificently ornamented with a variety of allego
rical devices, surrounding a Cupid in the centre
holding the mirror up to Nature, and surmounted
with an arched motto,—Imitatio Vita; Speculum
consueiudinis; Imutjo Vcritatis, of which the fol
lowing is a translation:—The imitation of life; the
mirror of manners; the representation of Truth. The
front of both tiers of boxes is similarly adorned
with appropriate allegorical and mythological de
signs, and beautifully bordered with mouldings
of gilded papier mache, whilst the support
ing pillars are all veneered and beautifully
French polished. This vast expanse is brilliantly
lighted up with five magnificent chandeliers, hold
ing 108 wax candles. The chandeliers alone have
cost the proprietor 120/. All the painting was
done by the talented artist Mr Opie, in his best
style, and the masterly manner in which it is exe
cuted reflects the highest credit on that gentleman.
Mr Solomon has, in short, determined to spare no
outlay or pains in forming a theatre worthy of the
colony, and even the foregoing cursory description
shews how well he has succeeded. The managers are
equally resolved to render the performances as
efficient and entertaining as possible, by introducing
the best available talents front the neighbouring
colonies, and have already engaged several " stars "
for that purpose. The programme for this evening
will be found in another column," and the crowd is
likely to be immense, for all the boxes, except two
or three reserved ones, were engaged early last week.