THE CAT AND FIDDLE BOOK. By Lady Bell and Mrs.
Herbert Richmond. (Longmans, Green and Co. 2s. 6d.)
This book contains eight dramatized nursery rhymes for performance by children, the scenery being adapted from the furniture of the nursery. They are very charmingly made, and should delight the youngsters, for dramatic point has been given to each of the plays, particularly to Humpty-Dumpty and Oranges and Lemons, both of which have an ensemble scene full of colour and excitement. We have heard it said that children are tiring of these stories of the ageless favourites, but to judge from the success of a recent performance by Edinburgh school-children of Mr. Clifford Bax's Old King Cole-the joy of the children, the extraordinary talent and enthusiasm in their acting-we feel sure that there is no truth in the rumour. Of course, Old King Cole is the masterpiece of its kind, made by a master of stagecraft ; but we feel confident that The Cat and Fiddle Book, unambitious as it is, will bring laughter and eager excitement into many nurseries and schoolrooms.
Previous page
