The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-01-23

''Everywoman" and
The Blue Bird"
/ A great many Union City people have
taken advantage Of the opportunity tC
see these two plays, which have come
for long road engagements near ouI
city. They are being played to big audi
ences, where the s. R. o." sign is in
variably hung out. 1t is doubtless owing
to the complicated stage properties and
electrical effects needed in The Blue
Bird" that causes it to be an extra
production, and therefore to play shorter
engagements in the South.
The seeing Of fine plays which have
a purpose, as these two have, can not
help being beneficial to anyone. The
most uncultured, that are better reached
through their eyes. as children are by
brilliant effects, with something behind
the effect that causes thought, had the
fortune TO see either one Of these plays
would remember them. The two little
ones who go out with their empty cage
to find the Blue Bird OF Happiness and
pass through strange experiences, led
by Bread, Water, Sugar. Milk, the Dog,
Cat, Night, the Stars, and all the other
things in child life that impress them,
only to come home again and find the
object of their search there, is won
deriul and beautiful fairytale to the hun
dreds OF children that have been taken
to see it; but the older ones know that
it is true story, told in symbols in the
most impressive way.
A man who can, like Maurice Maeter-
linck, concern himself in child's story,
exquisitely written to teach truth and
at the same time afford the most de-
lightful pleasure, must be great GEM
us, as it has been seen that in all great
geniuses, especially writers, there is a
strain Of fantastic childishness and inn
agination thai very mature brain cam
not understand or tolerate. Maeterlinck
is called the Belgian Shakespeare be-
cause he is the greatest poet of that
country. His Norma Wanna, a great
ly discussed play several years ago on
account Of its theme, brought him into
prominence. The play had marked the
event OF his marriage to the Partisan
actress, Georgette Leblanc, who was
said to be the greatest good fortune to
bis work, bringing it into publicity by
her help and work as wonderful ac-
tress. His classics in prose, Our Friend
the Dog" and THE Life Of the Bee, +"
are known in every language OF the
world.
"Everywoman" was resort to the
form OF the old morality play by an
obsure author, who died on the night
of its presentation without knowing that
it would prove such great success. I'll
will be remembered here that the first
plays ever written in the English Ian
guage came through the church, and
were presented in the churches, to teach
the ignorant laity moral lessons through
symbols or characters. These plays were
called Morality's, and form the founda-
ton Of the English language and drama.
Everywoman" was written in this play
form, its dozens of characters being at
tributes Of woman s life, Youth, Hope,
Vanity, Hate, Revenge, Money, Pleas
ure, Piety. Wine, Love, Old Age, Truth,
Folly, Wisdom, ETC., among which
Everywoman, meaning any woman,
moves and questions and experiences
in her lifelong hunt for Love and Hap
piness which she does not find until she
returns, broken and old, to the home
she had deserted.