Page 71 - Demo

69light. At yet another landing, we turned, climbed a few more steps, and were, at last, inside the Opera House proper, looking toward the stage. In a word, it was awesome%u2014an open, lofty space, but one with a musty look, and a musty smell. Down front, the raised, curtainless stage had a crumbling Venetian mural as a permanent backdrop. Both the street- and alley-side walls had tall, narrow windows alternating with sections of discolored wallpaper depicting swimming swans. On the ceiling, amid layers of flaking paint and paper, were affixed three, large, plaster medallions painted red and green. From our position at the rear of the Opera House, the dark wooden floor descended in several shallow tiers. There were a few sections of folding wooden seats with arabesque, iron frames, which I learned were not original to the buildingAs we walked forward, then looked up behind us, we spotted the narrow balcony. It appeared that most of its cast-iron decoration was missing. %u201cThe previous owner removed it,%u201d Anita explained, %u201cand, it was a good thing, too. That metal adornment was so heavy, the entire balcony could have collapsed if he hadn%u2019t.%u201d Directly below the balcony, I spotted the remains of three pigeons laid out on a platter. Before I Delphi Opera House (Balcony view.), Delphi%u2014Carroll Co. (788.07)