New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-25
COMEDY AND DRAMA.


TIL, New Theatre viii open its second
season on Monday night with Maurice
NIaeforlinck's The Blue Bird" which is
described as fairy play about children for
srown-tips The keynote is sfoInd in tie
expression The blue bird for happiness
The presentation VIII be made inttwo parts
and ten scenes by a specially recruited
connany and the drama will be performed
every weekday night and on. "Wednesday
and Saturday afternoons untilsthe regular
renertorv organization 5eginss its annual
engagement on November 4.
The drama has been given with success
abroad but has never been seen in Amer
ica. II was first presented in Russia, where
about sixty companies are playing. 1t, and
was later produced by Herbert Trench at
the Haymarket Theatre. London where il
had a record-breaking run Its. great sue
cess lies in its philosophy. While the
play delights the young, for the'reason that
Naeterlnck has found expression through
2 poetic. mystic and scerically beautiful
fairy tale largely enacted by children, its
deeper meaning appeals 10 adults, in his
philosophy the Belgian poet shows. that, al
though happiness-as typified by the blue
bird Of Lorraine folklore-may be captured,
Il cannot he retained for all timehby those
fortunate enough 10 secure II.
The FIRST night audience will find The
New Theatre auditorium renodelled, for
during the summer extensive alterations
have been made; the boxes havegeXchanged
rlaces with the foyer stalls; the second
balcony has been curtained of insa way
30 eliminate IL when necessary; a canopy
has been hung from the ceiling, and the
color scheme has been darkened and en-
siched. The alterations were naele by
xsrrere & Hastings, the architects, on
- Tarrafn ~ :
Sabine, Harvard expert in acoustics, and
the directors announce that any tdifficul-
ties experienced last year as 10 shearing
have been absolutely corrected.
The directors believe that The Blue
bird" will be found TO be beautiful IN, its
mysticism, poetry, incidental music and
scenic investiture, and that it will de-
aight all classes Of theatregoers-
Abroad the presentation Of the DRAMA
was made in five acts and tensscenes. The
New Theatres arrangement lis somewhat
different, being more compact thereby per
hitting the tale 10 be unfolded more rapid
". AS in England, the forest scene will
DE omitted. Many OF the scenes require
unusual lighting effects, and for the, first
Wine in the history OF The New Theatre
Tie fuu electrical equipment Of the play
house viii be used. In one scene alone
sixty spot and Olivette lamps win Fbe en-
ployed, IN addition TO the entire mean
descent system. About seventy-f1ve play
ers. tIo-thirds of whom are children. will
take part in the production, and OF this
number thirty-eight viii have lines to
speak.
While z glance at the stage direction
might suggest that the performance will be
spectacular. Il will not be SO in the accept
ed sense OF the term. Remarkable scenic
pictures VIII be unfolded. quick changes
viii be made and melting effects will
be used but the result viii be poetic and
smaginatively lovely rather than sensa-
1ional. Throughout the play will run Incl
dental music drawn largely from the works
OF Debussy, and dances called for by the
action viii be executed. These numbers
have been arranged by Miss Caroline
Crawford. Of the faculty OF Columbia Uni
versity, ana VIII include the dances Of the
hours. mist maidens. perfumes. dews, will
V-the-wisps, loaves Of bread. fire, water
and giowworms.
The story OF the piay follows:
Tyltyl and Mytyl the sen and daughter
OF a poor woodchopper, are tucked into
sheir trUckle beds Christmas Eve TO
await a morrow which Santa Claus Will
mot bless. After the parents retire the
children go to the window and are watch
ing the holiday festivities in their rich
seighbor's home when Fairy Berylune, a
Svitchlike old woman, enters and demands
that the children provide her with grass
THAT sings" or bird that is blue" She
IS particularly anxious to obtain the latter
as its capture VIII bring happiness to man
kind and health 10 sickly small girl Of
aler Acquaintance Tyltyl and Mytyl ex-
press their willingness TO hunt for the bird
sE6 the fairy sets upon the head of Tyltyl
q magic cap in the centre Of which is a
wonderful diamond. With the turning of
this diamond the souls of Fire. Water Milk.
BREAD. the Cat. the Dog and even the trees
come forth and speak: the Past ana the F'ut-
sIre unfold themselves. and many wonderful
and enhancing transformations take place.
To test the powers Of the diamond. Tyltyl
gives the stone one turn. and Immediately
abe walls Of the cottage turn 10 opal: Cat,
Dog, Fire, Water, Bread. Light MIX and
Sugar become animated, speaking COM
trades. the Hours trip laughingly from the
old graadfathcrs clock by the wall; the
EsrOsaaic kitchen utensils behave in most
7Indgni6ed fashion. and the old white
crocaery that has been used these many
years turns 10 gold And while the chill
dren marvel the window opens most mag
3caIly. inviting them and their new found
companions 70 begin their journey.
Without. tie yginfry landscape is dark
s-lS4 ~ lt-E LylGsS NllCA Know so MGlis DuL
the great pines have mysteTiously become
Christmas trees. Tar away among the
branches CT which shines an unusual light
Sc beautiful is il the children wish 10 ap-
I,roach nearer. and. 10, IN the twinkling
OF eye a large staircase advances TO
meet their feet, aEd they climb &c the Pal
ace Of the Fairy BerylEne. a structure
seemingly built CT soap bubbles. or. per
haps, uniformed worlds. Hitler and thither
these worlds float in curious, greenish
light. and all that T. clear IS that the pa
acc s. somewhere near tho moon. The
FAIRY has brought them 10 send them forth
on their mission. and with Fire. Water.
Get Dog, Bread. A5lA and Sugar they Sc:
forth 10 TIE Land of Memory. where they
find their grandparents. long thought dead.
not dead Il I'll. bUt sleeping. On their
way sley pass through a strange. shacowy
1ores., where mist laaidens dance ctheTe-
Glly among the trees.