he could n't believe that anyone in his right mind would want to tear down that stately pleasure dome with its glittering glass chandelier , its sweeping right-and-left staircases which spiraled up to the balcony , and its mammoth curtain , which did not simply pull apart when the show started but which instead rose in magical folds and tucks and gathers , all underlit in fabulous shades of red and blue and yellow and green while pullies off stage ratcheted and groaned .