ON THE CONSTRUCTION OP THEATRE*, 153 



in this respect, by enlarging the area round the site of $he 



lute building. 



Whether a more convenient situation might be selected, The entrances 



I do not pretend to know ; but a theatre built on the old In5ght bemade 

 * * r ' verv comma- 



foundation might be rendered extremely commodious as to dioua 



its entrances, or vomitories, as the ancients called the ave- 

 nues to their amphitheatres. 



If the whole building were raised upon arches of a height by ra ' sIn g tbff 

 _. . ; . ' •" i -r n- i ' i» , • building on 



sufficient to admit carriages, and it numerous Jiightsoi stairs arc hes. 



were constructed within the piers which support these 

 arches, the audience might depart commodiously in differ- 

 ent directions, without confusion or de]ay. 



The colonnades formed by pillars properly disposed 

 would permit alternate rows of carriages. Company 

 might descend from the boxes almost immediately intfi 

 their carriages: passages for those who were on foot might 

 be railed off, and rendered secure. 



This plan would be attended with considerable expense; This expense 



but it might be counterbalanced by sparing one of the n)1§ht be t . 

 « ••11 " compensated. 



higher galleries, which lately injured the audibility of the 



performance, without adding much to the profits of the 

 house. Besides it might be so managed, that tickets for 

 the admission of carnages under the piazzas should be 

 issued, which would cover the expense of their con- 

 struction. 



3. Facility of feeing and hearing. — As to seeing I believe Facility o/ 

 that very little can be said, but what is obvious to every seeing, 

 person of common sense ; the actors and the spectators 

 have in this respect opposite interests. It is the interest of 

 the actors, to have that part of the house, which contains 

 the audience, as large as possible. On the contrary it 

 must be the wish of the audience, within certain bounds, 

 to be neap the stage ; and in all cases, the audience musj; 

 wish, that every part of the pit, galleries, and boxes, 

 should be equally commodious for seing. Now in a large 

 theatre this is impossible. To extend the pit and boxes, 

 they must recede from the front of the stage; they cannot 

 be extended in breadth without shutting out the view from, 

 the side boxes. 



Little 



