A N astonishing revive' AN
the medieval mystery play " is the tribute given by an eminent Benedictine, Dom Samuel Stehman, to Mlle. Bradi Barth's " puppets with a difference " which are due in England later this month.
in a beautifully illustrated supplement to L'Art d'EglIse, he says "From the moment the curtain rises, one is held by the feeling that this is n masterpiece. The beauty. when it reaches some points, is almost overwhelming. One wants to prolong each
event . .."
These are puppets "with a difference" because they have been impressed into the service of the New Testament. It is their solemn office to re-enact the Life of Our Lord under the title "The Joys and Sorrows of Our Lady".
As you will already have read in THE CATHOLIC HERALD, the production is the result of four years hard work by eine. Barth. Gold Medallist of the Academy of Ghent.
Bradi Barth makes her puppets three feet tall so that in their appropriate frame they ran easily he seen on an ordinary stage.
The company which this dedicated young artist had recruited to produce her play is called L'Equipe de Notre Dame de to Belle Verriere—after the beautiful window in Chartres Catheilenl—separate pieces of glass combined to make a thing of beauty.
The company number three ea.Swiss and nine Belgians
e who give their spare time
IC voluntarily to this spedalised and exacting work. es London. and whatever pro
▪ vincial towns that &alai • .. Barth's puppets are to visit are in for a unique religious and artistic experience. From the illus. tratione to Dom Stehman's article I can guess lit the high standard of the whole scenes of the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Marriage Feast at Cana.
All her life Bradi has had one increasing purpose— to draw and to paint and to carve. All are now dedicated to the service of God in the Lay Apostolate.
L'EquIpe de Notre Dame de laRetie VerriAre opens at the Tower Theatre. Canonburt 7.• Place, on November 25 at 7.45 a• p.m. On November 26 the coin P. pany moves to Acton Town ti Hall for a show at 8 p.m. On to November 27 at 8 p.m. they are el at Sr. Mary's Convent, Fitze john's Avenue, Hampstead, and next day they go to St. Bernard's Convent, Slough, for two performances. On Nove ember 29 they go to the Ursulitte se•Convene Ilford. and on Dec ember 2 fall their largest London performances, at 2.30 p.m. Is and 7.30 p.m. at St. Pancras s Town Hall, On December 3 there is a show at a: the Streatham Baths. Then the bus moves on to Oxford for one 'e perfoonance at the Playhouse ;,8 and shows in Birmingham. s• Coventry. and Stafford on the way to Liverpool and Preston.c