The Blue Bird. Maurice Maeterlinck

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       Maurice Maeterlinck

      The Blue Bird

      A Fairy Play in Six Acts

      Published by Good Press, 2019

       [email protected]

      EAN 4057664094438

Table of Contents

       TRANSLATOR'S NOTE

       COSTUMES

       SCENES

       THE BLUE BIRD

       ACT I. The Wood-cutter's Cottage

       CURTAIN

       ACT II.

       SCENE I.— At the FAIRY'S.

       CURTAIN

       SCENE 2.— The Land of Memory .

       CURTAIN

       ACT III.

       SCENE 1.— The Palace of NIGHT.

       SCENE 2.— The Forest.

       CURTAIN

       ACT IV

       SCENE 1.— Before the Curtain .

       SCENE 2.— The Palace of Happiness .

       CURTAIN

       ACT V

       SCENE I.— Before the Curtain .

       SCENE 2.— The Graveyard .

       CURTAIN

       SCENE 3.— The Kingdom of the Future .

       CURTAIN

       ACT VI

       SCENE I.— The Leave-taking .

       SCENE 2.— The Awakening .

       CURTAIN

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE

       Table of Contents

      A new act appears for the first time in this edition and is inserted as Act IV—Palace of Happiness. It has been specially written for the Christmas revival of The Blue Bird at the Haymarket Theatre, where it will take the place of the Forest Scene (Act III., Scene 2). In the printed version, however, the Forest Scene is retained; and in this and all later editions the play will consist of six acts instead of five.

      ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS. CHELSEA, 14 November, 1910.

COSTUMES

       Table of Contents

      TYLTYL wears the dress of Hop o' my Thumb in Perrault's Tales. Scarlet knickerbockers, pale-blue jacket, white stockings, tan shoes.

      MYTYL is dressed like Gretel or Little Red Riding-hood.

      LIGHT.—The "moon-coloured" dress in Perrault's Peau d'âne; that is to say, pale gold shot with silver, shimmering gauzes, forming a sort of rays, etc. Neo-Grecian or Anglo-Grecian (à la Walter Crane) or even more or less Empire style: a high waist, bare arms, etc. Head-dress: a sort of diadem or even a light crown.

      THE FAIRY BÉRYLUNE and NEIGHBOUR BERLINGOT.—The traditional dress of the poor women in fairy-tales. If desired, the transformation of the Fairy into a princess in Act I may be omitted.

      DADDY TYL, MUMMY TYL, GAFFER TYL and GRANNY TYL.—The traditional costume of the German wood-cutters and peasants in Grimm's Tales.

      TYLTYL'S BROTHERS AND SISTERS.—Different forms of the Hop-o'-my-Thumb costume.

      TIME.—Traditional dress of Time: a wide black or dark-blue cloak, a streaming white beard, scythe and hour-glass.

      NIGHT.—Ample black garments, covered with mysterious stars and "shot" with reddish-brown reflections. Veils, dark poppies, etc.

      THE NEIGHBOUR'S LITTLE GIRL.—Bright fair hair; a long white frock.

      THE DOG—Red dress-coat, white breeches, top-boots, a shiny hat. The costume suggests that of John Bull.

      THE CAT.—The costume of Puss In Boots: powdered wig, three-cornered hat, violet or sky-blue coat, dress-sword, etc.

      N.B.—The heads of the DOG and the CAT should be only discreetly animalised.

      THE LUXURIES.—Before the transformation: wide, heavy mantles in red and yellow brocade; enormous fat jewels, etc. After the transformation: chocolate or coffee-coloured tights, giving the impression of unadorned dancing-jacks.

      THE HAPPINESSES OF THE HOME.—Dresses of various colours, or, if preferred, costumes of peasants, shepherds, wood-cutters and so on, but idealised and interpreted fairy-fashion.

      THE GREAT JOYS.—As stated in the text, shimmering dresses in soft and subtle shades: rose-awakening, water's-smile, amber-dew, blue-of-dawn, etc.

      MATERNAL LOVE.—Dress very similar to the dress worn by