"THE BLUE BIRD."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1038, 30 January 1911, Page 6

"THE BLUE BIRD."

1 «• l Mr. Wilson Fritcli, Hie American lecturer, entertained n fairly largo audienco at tile Opera House last evening with . a recital ol Maeterlinck's exquisite fantasy "Tho Blue Bird." It is impossible to read this beautiful work without being affected by tho witchery of its thought and lnimour, and tlio spirituality which underlies the charming allegories with which it abounds. Early last year "Tho Blue Bird" was being played by no fewer than fifty-nino companies in Russia,_aud it was played for over a year at Theatre des Arts, in Moscow. It was also successfully produced in London and New York. Perhaps it is that "Tho Bluo Bird" does not lend.itself to recital, or that it calls for hikrionic powers of no ordinary description, but Mr. Fritcli, while he. rendered the lines fairly accurately, did not lend much character to the dramatis personae, and tho humour was only faintly suggested. Moreover, those who did not know tho work or were without books, could not determine which character was speaking. To make tho story of Mytyl and Tyltyl's wanderings in search of the blue bird (happiness) intelligible to a general audienca this at leasfi is essential. To Sir. Fritcli, however, is due a word of commendation for his earnestness of purpose in making better known this wonderfully appealing "fairy story for grownups." .