Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-04-30
SEEK HAPPINESS
At THE sHUbERT.
Maeterlinck's Elusive Blue
bird Admirably Staged
and Performed Here.

Maurice Maeterlinek's w~ell-known
masterpiece. THE Bluebird,'' a musical
allegory of more than ordinary worth.
was presented last night at the Shubert
Theatre. The quest for happiness " as
beautifully portrayed in the story of
THE Bluebird. follows, as an interest
Ing coincidence, the pilgrimage lin quest
OF 1--WE, as presented to the Shubert
patrons last week in "Everywoman."
The two plays are widely different.
The Maeterlinck masterpiece Is an ale
gorical picture set in a quaint and
homely frame. namely. the abode of a
poor woodcutter. Happiness is not rep
resented by the author in surroundings
of wealth and extravaganza. but 1t Is
the children of the peasant home that
give piquancy to this remarkable story.
Ir the search for the bluebird. the
syIni'oi OF happiness, the progress of the
two children Is through fairyland,
dreamland and the land of mystery. The
Characters of Fire, Water, Bread, Sugar,
MIX and the like are personified and
seen IL ~fairyland In grotesque creations.
Dreamland consists of the adults
fairyland, the kingdom of the future, a
concelt of the adult mind transferred to
childish understanding. The Land of
Mystery Is the Kingdom of the past,
where the graveyard is turned instanta-
neously into a garden of lilies, symbol
izing the resurrection.
THE Bluebird" IS the quaint and fan
tastic dream of a poet, transferring the
mysteries of the universe to the lips and
brains of little children to whom are I'M
puted these vast ~imaginations absurdly
simple ON the one side and profoundly
philosophical on the other.
Tho adventures of the children supply
the foremos interest in the story. Bur
ford Hampton. as Tyltyl, was very clever
IN his important role. Burford was
brought from London to play this part.
He is II years old. His little companion,
Helen Roland, who played Mytyl, is also
a gifted little star.
In striking contrast to these two roles
was the character of the cat. played by
Cecil Napp. Mr.. Yapp created this role
when the play was first produced at the
New Theatre. New York. His limitations
were decidedly masterful.
ID tho role Of the faithful, affectlonate
saii. often. humorous dog, made famous
by The late Millionaire actor, Jacob Wen
dell. who created the part, W. H.. Denny
proved a worthy second. His difficult
Fart was capahly handled. Alice Butler
as the giotesqne fairy. Helene Lackaye
as the majestic light, Charles Hampton,
the father of young Burford. and Ethel
Brandon MS the quaint father ana
mother. all contributed to make blue,
bird a successful dramatic offering, with
a pleasing humor and poetic beauty quite
distinctly its own. Miss Margaret Miller,
who plays the part of Milk. is a Newark
girl and has many friends here.
There are no great dramatic climaxes,
but the scenic TRANSFORMATIONS and fad
ing lights are sufficient. The Ship of
Tim scene. where the children beg to be
born, the Land of Memory scene with
its soft pastoral c%olors, are sufficiently
beautiful.
''Blueblrd" is the last Offering at the
Shubert of the regular season. Next week
Una Abel Brinker aud her stock COM
pany will take possession and present
their repertoire at popular prices.