New-York tribune., 1922-12-17
Slsnl.lsr,Er % RI. PIrers

4 DeilGN0 tAt AakAI VII " haNFtf'N
We convey q hundredth part Of this
npr,ssion 20 our audience, but how
an We do this With a thoushndfold
subllef The Moscow thester Publie is
ssuslly late for ths performance, en-
,srs The ball nolsily. looks tor = seat
or some time and settles ltsslf grad
ally amid a rustling Of clothes and
rograna Such . crowd vill fTightsn
way TIE moods Of kAsterlinek's phan-
orns. dsAdsn the nuttsring spirit Of
he nysterious and disturb the dream
= the beautiful ehild'E sleep. People
win 10, be carried away al once and
suis, down. First Of all they will have
% shake on the daily W0rriss which
hey bring With them 70 the thestsr
N their minds and their tired nerves
thus will the hrst act pash
Yet not . single word Of Mastsr-
.lnek's play must BE- lost u 10 neees-
sary % get the attention Of the public
4 once without waiting fer the dsvsl-
opmsnt Of the plsy 70 draw them away
ron their cares.
Formerly this was attained By simple
rnsana In the days Of our grnndfhth-
ers they did not quiet tbs audience
hey produced an artificial cheerful
ness with an orchestra which played
dsafsning march or Q polka with chsth-
nets. Then the play and the actors
we're different, and the decorations and
costumes bright and loud Everything
aetsd rharply on the sight, the hear
ine and the primitive Imagination Of
me spectator. Nov both the purpose
md the manner Of ssiIing hold Of the
epee,Ator have changed. and the old
,hsatrical manner 10 longer satishes
Ths thsster does not wish 20 smui'
,bs publie under tho Tuiss Of diversion
=; has more important alma The
author and the artist use the
heater q, means Of conveying noble
pietures and thoughts. Through i the
po.t Maeterllnek sings bis liturgy and
rb,.n the thinker preaehes the freedom
= the human spirit
Everything abstract is lsss intel
ilvlble 20 the middle class public and
therefore our task is more complicated
Int happlly We have new means of eH-
,r.ssion more effective than the old
,ssthods. The theateT has become
strong through the cooperation Of rep
re,entatives Of all the arts and crafts
u the atnge. and their creation l'
irreastlblo. We do not need striking
decorations or costumesi exquisite
paintings and materials 10 subdUed
tones take their place. Old, straight
iaced actors with wheezing voices ere
replaced By modest people Of culture
and ouies manner They DO not need
20 70 70 the extreme Of what they feel
for It Is only 70 the stupid that you
have TO explain everything In words
The rsglsssurs have Learned 20 brinG
into common harmony all the creative
elements Of The performance, and Ia
this harmony lies the strength Of the
theater. Therefore We shall attempt q
win the audience At the rits Of the
curtain.
The leading f6le In the ensemble be-
longs 20 you artists. In order 70 make
The public listen 70 the ane shades oi
your feelings you have 20 experienced
them Intensely yourself. To liv'
through definite intelhgible feelings 4
easier than 70 live through the subtle
soul vibrations OF poetic nature. II
reach them Il ls necessary 70 die deeI
into the material which it handed q
WGou Tor creation. TO the study Of th'
Jay We shall devote Jointly a sres'
Veal Of work and attention and love
But that ls little. in addition you hsv'
% prepare yourself Independently.
speak Of your personal life. Oh
servstlon which will broaden your In
sglnation and sensitlveness. Maxi
friends Of children. Enter into thsii
world Watch nature and her mani
fsStations surrounding as. Max,
friends OF dogt and eats snd lool
oftener Into their eyes 20 see thsii
sools You viii Be doing the same a
Nssterlinek did before writing th'
play. and you viii come closer to th'
author.
Just nov I cannot stop longer on tAil
most lmportan, point. the work Of th'
artists. 70 which ve shall devote NAM
slttinrs and rehearsals must hurr,
on TO that part Of the production The
realization Of which does not permit Of
delay. mean the decorative. th'
musieal, the eleetro-;eehnieal and
other phases os the vork for which
.he craftsmen Of the thester srs wait
Ing.
More than anything else, We must
avoid thestricalness n the external
presentation Of The Blue Bird" as
well a. IN the spiritual Interpretation,
for II might change the fairy dream
Of ths poe, Into an ordinary sTtrnTu-
direction and the authors remarks IL
smother We must look At these re-
marks with particular attention and
understand in them the hidden plot
and Intention Of the author The or
tinsry conventional approach Of s1-