APPEARANCE OF THE KING'S THEATRE.
THE commencement of the reign of a new dictator over the realms of Opera and Ballet is at any time an event of some interest; in the instance of Mr. 1VIONCK MASON, it has become a sort of wra in the annals of the Italian stage. A new and liberal dynasty succeeds to an interregnum of temporary rulers, who were stimulated some- what by the love of power, much and chiefly by the desire of gain, little or nothing by devotion to music, to seek the perilous respon- sibility of their situation. But no king ever stood in such awe of his haughty barons as the director of the King's Theatre must in suspense with respect to his subscribers. If taste be subject to no rules, how much less individual preference; and if fashion be governed by caprice, who shall control the dominant power? We were present at the lighting up of the house on Thursday night. The coup dceil is greatly improved. The new drop-curtain is in superb classical taste,—pale crimson with rich gold orna- ments; the drapery above it is not equally good, and the super- addition of an enormous crown and cushion is positively bad. We hope it will be removed; the crown indeed appears to be in immi- nent danger of falling. The ceiling is laid out in gay coinpart- meats, introducing the Muses. The new chandelier is elegant and of noble dimensions, and diffuses a beautiful light round the house. The boxes are newly fitted up with crimson curtains; and their fronts painted a bright mineral green, on which the old gilt orna- ments are raised. These are dull, and scanty; and expose too much of the decided colour of the ground, which therefore pro- duces a harsh contrast with the colour of the draperies. We would substitute a rich scroll of arabesque, to subdue the hardness of the green ground; the effect of which would, we think, be a brilliant relief to the monotony of the draperies, and harmonize with the beautiful decorations of the curtain and ceiling. A suc- cessful season will enable Mr. MASON to complete his design in respect to the embellishments.
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