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Poor Aurora

Time is no respecter of style. The head of Aurora, her flowing
plaster locks extending over the orchestra pit at The Kings (previous
article), may have been a joke in the fifties, but in her day she was
cool. Consider this praise for ornament in theatres written in the
twenties.
It is all very well to condemn the riots of meaningless ornament and
bizarre colouring that were considered appropriate in the past, on the
score that they detract from concentration and soothing of the senses;
whereas plainness fosters a receptive mood, conducive to favourable
impression of the piece; but on the other hand, what of the play that
bores, or the film that would not merit a favourable impression?
At a place of entertainment, even the architecture is expected to
contribute some joyous or refreshing note to the ensemble. The interior
of the theatre should assist the audience to find diversion in its beauties,
and to forget their boredom, rather than be reminded of it, for want of
anywhere to concentrate their gaze but on the stage.
The theatre is above all a place for amusement and the liberation of
the fancy and the introduction of the most playful effects in Moorish,
Egyptian, Chinese, Louis XV and such, whilst exotic if introduced in
the design of other buildings, are quite in accord with the spirit of the
theatre.
The theatre, with its sculptural motif, and fanciful play of light and
decoration has always provided an Aladdin’s Cave of voyage and
discovery for the hapless onlooker, trapped into viewing a production
not altogether to the taste.
On the other hand, the beauty of walls and ceilings bursting into
sculpture and florescence, and sprouting chubby cupids in joyous
abandon has never detracted from the enjoyment of a good piece.
An audience is called upon to study its environment for periods
preliminary to the piece, and for long intervals, so that it is as well for
the surroundings to remind them that they are in a place of
entertainment. A certain exuberance of ornament is far from
meaningless.
Extract from Building 12 March 1926.

22 2003 CINEMARECORD