The Haymarket recommenced its year-long season on Monday, some- what
inauspiciously ; the non-arrival ctf the President steamer having not only deprived the manager of the attraction of POWER'S reappear- ance, but damped the public feeling by misgivings as to the safety of their favourite actor and his fellow-passengers. Madame CELESTE, too, played only in the latter part of the evening ; so that the attendance at the singing of "God save the Queen," by the assembled company, was but scanty, notwithstanding the new decorations. These are rather more showy than elegant. The pntacenium, instead of the usual painted drapery, is hung with amber damask bordered with maroon velvet, and edged with solid fringe suspended by brass rings to a gilt pole ; presenting the appearance of an immense window-curtain looped up so ai to form a roof to the proscenium, and hide the capitals of the side-pillars : the stage-boxes are similarly curtained, and their fronts profusely adorned with carting and gilding in heavy relief. The front of the first circle of boxes is ornamented by bust-portraits of the old dramatists, from CHAPMAN ICI MARLOWE ; including, of course, SHAK- SPERE, BEAUMONT, FLETCHER, BEN JONSON, FORD, MASSINCER, &C. ; painted in oil of the life-size, and set in oval gilt frames. The cha- racteristics of the likenesses are well preserved ; and the execution, by Mr. J. W. WRIGHT, is in the most finished style of easel paintings: indeed, these pictures are worthy of a place in any gallery. This kind of art, however, is more fitted for daylight than candlelight : the effect of the pictures, viewed as ornaments merely, is heavy ; the more so as the colours are overpowered by the glare of gilding, the crimson lining of the boxes, and patches of scarlet in the panels. The fronts of the dress and upper circles exhibit outline portraits, in black and white, smaller in size, of the minor and later dramatists : these are too slight to la: visible or effective, and they are mounted on a scarlet ground, which makes them appear still more meagre. The representation of a dome on the ceiling is by no means illusory, but the effect is good ; and the circular border in relief, an imitation of carved work in papier mache gilt, is handsome. In the covings of the roof are busts of SHAKSPERE, DRYDEN, and Miaans, in hemi- spherical recesses, surrouuded by gilded wreaths.
The coup-d'ceil of all this splendour is not so agreeable as might be wished : the eye is distracted by multiplicity of parts ; instead of re- posing on the harmony of effect, it meets with harsh discords of colour, and incongruous details of design. Moreover, the costly and garish draperies of the proscenium materially injure the stage-effect, making the painted scenes appear flat and heavy, and the stage-properties dingy.
The comfort and convenience of the audience have been consulted by the addition of backs to the seats in the dress circle, well-stuffed cushions, wax-lights, and a new plan of ventilation. In short, Mr. WEBSTER has done his part, by a liberal outlay and the employment of the best artists in the various departments ; but the result proves that a clever artist may be an indifferent decorator.
Previous page
