[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> "Sweet Bird" always reminded me of the phrase "Sweet Bird of Youth," which
> was the title of a Tennessee Williams play in the 50s but which, I suspect,
> he was adapting from a much older source.
Here from Artistic Director Michael Kahn :
It was, but I think Sweet Bird of Youth is a better title. It
means the same thing. "Sweet bird" suggests that, almost
before we know it, youth flies away. Youth is sweet and has a
buoyant quality, while the enemy, time, is what makes the
sweet bird fly. Tennessee was very careful about his titles.
The play, which has its lyric and lurid moments at the same
time, is about the end of a lot of things. That's the dramatic
cliff Tennessee constructs for us: All the characters are on
their last chance. No one escapes having to choose, but it's
fascinating to see what each of the characters do when faced
with their choice.
Interestingly, the title of one of his greatest works, A Streetcar Named
Desire, was originally very bland: The Poker Game.
Jerry
