The next day, in the evening.

Lu Shi took the train from Cambridge back to London,

He first returned to the palace on Palace Street, dropped off his luggage, and went out to the Royal Opera House in a horse-drawn carriage for the premiere of "Lolita".

Compared to the first performance of "The Hunt", "Lolita" seems to be more popular,

There were more people gathered outside the theater, and there were more gentlemen.

They are all discussing the plot enthusiastically,

"Have you seen it? Which version? ”

"Hey, which version can it be? Uncensored, of course...... cough cough cough ...... Codex~"

"Wonderful, right?"

"What's more? It's just wonderful! But to be sure, the drama isn't too out of place. So, I'm here with the mindset of appreciating art. You know, it's hard to get a ticket, and I'm bleeding. ”

……

Lu Shi wanted to laugh when he heard it,

Dark Passage,

Oh, man.

It is also true that the tickets for the premiere of "Lolita" have been fired up by scalpers,

Despite the strict inspections of the Royal Opera House, and even the imprisonment of a considerable number of people, it has not been able to suppress ticket prices.

Lu Shi parted the crowd and walked towards the gate,

Along the way, many people recognized him and greeted him warmly.

Lu Shi entered the door.

Zena immediately caught up,

"Professor Lu!"

She lowered her voice,

"His Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness the Princess are in the first box. However, I am afraid you can't go there, because the Holy See of Canterbury is also there. Since The Hunt, he seems to have been fascinated by theatre and sees performances at least once a week. ”

It is normal for an archbishop to have worldly preferences,

For example, Pope Francis, who was born in Argentina, is particularly fond of football.

There was even a reporter who made fun of this incident and asked Francis: "Do you think it is a blasphemy against God for people to call the king of the ball?"

Lu Shi didn't care if he saw Edward VII or not,

"Then I'll go to Box No. 2."

Zena let out a shallow "um", and then said, "There is also a guest visiting Mr. Xiao today, who seems to be a playwright. They are waiting for you in Box 2. ”

The two of them said as they walked up the stairs.

Enter the box,

George Bernard Shaw sat diagonally across from a mustachioed man.

On the round table between the two of them, there was a bottle of freshly opened red wine.

When he saw Lu, the man immediately got up,

He said respectfully: "Sir Lu, I have admired the name for a long time, and I finally met you in person." I'm James Matthew Barry, and I'm a journalist and I'm also working on some creative work. ”

George Bernard Shaw interjected with a smile,

"You're too modest."

As he spoke, he turned to Lu Shi and said, "James could have gone to teach at the University of St. Andrews, but he refused. ”

Barry explained: "I just didn't feel like I was good enough. ”

Frankly, he's not such a humble person.

But because I saw Lu Shi, a literary person, I heard that Chinese are modest and cautious, so I voted for him.

Lu Shi shook hands with each other,

"Hello."

James Matthew Barry,

A famous Scottish writer and playwright, he has written many classic children's literature, including "Peter Pan".

In this way, "Peter Pan" should be out soon.

The three men sat down one after the other.

Zena asked the attendant to add another cup before preparing to leave.

But Lu Shi stopped: "You don't have a performance task today, it's better to stay in the box and watch the drama, the vision is good." ”

Zena: "Huh? "With a bang,

Due to the peculiarity of the content of "Lolita", she was a little worried that her presence would affect the discussion among men.

Lu Shi also understood the little girl's concerns, and explained with a smile: "Mr. Barry is a writer of children's literature, and with you, maybe you can give us some ideas from different perspectives." ”

Barry was stunned,

"Sir Lu knows me!?"

He scrambled to his feet,

"I ...... You ......"

Because of the excitement, the speech was a little stumbling,

In the end, I could only choose not to say it, and instead poured myself a glass of wine to pay tribute to Lu Shi,

"Thanks!"

After that, I drank it all.

The so-called "deep feelings, a mouthful",

It's all in the wine.

Seeing this situation, George Bernard Shaw subtly squeezed his eyes at Lu Shi,

"Lu, you are in such a position in today's Europe."

Barry put down his glass,

"Sir Lu, since you know me, then I'll just say it. Recently, I was working on a screenplay, and the other day, I was walking in Kensington Park, and I saw a few children building houses with tree branches, playing fairies and pirates, and having a lot of fun, which sparked my desire to create. ”

This should be the beginning of "Peter Pan".

Historically, stories are not formed all at once,

It started with the fairy tale "Peter Pan in Kensington Park" and later adapted it into a storybook.

Barry is a childlike and persevering person, from the script to the final version, after 1904~1928, a total of 25 years,

Coupled with the idea, the creation time is quite long.

Lu Shi was curious,

"Mr. Barry is going to create a game-style fairy tale?"

Barre:???

George bernard shaw:???

"What is 'game-style'?" ×2

The two spoke in unison.

Lu Shi replied: "I just listened to Mr. Barry's meaning, the script you wrote, the actors seem to be ready to use children. ”

Barry pondered for a moment, and understood,

"Sir Lu is right. For children, fairy tale drama is essentially a performance game to experience different emotions and at the same time learn to cooperate with others, which in turn improves communication skills. ”

In short, as long as this kind of script is printed in textbooks, it will become a teaching method that teachers like to see.

Sub-role-playing.

The opposite is the likes of "The Hunt",

Although there are also many young actors, the requirements for acting skills are extremely high and must be professional enough.

Moreover, there should be no child who wants to play Clara.

Barry admired: "Sir Lu, I didn't expect you to have an understanding of children's literature. Speaking of which, the Innocence Trilogy also seems to be ......"

Lu Shi hurriedly waved his hand,

"Don't, that's not for kids."

The two chatted.

At this moment, suddenly there was a drum sound below,

Knock –

"Lolita" begins.

George Bernard Shaw's adaptation did not have the chatter at the beginning, but went straight to the point,

Act I,

From the moment Humbert fell in love with Lolita at first sight, he chose to marry her mother in order to get close to her for a long time.

Phyllis's acting skills have improved so quickly that people are jaw-dropping.

The silence in the box fell into silence,

Everyone indulged in it, and no one spoke.

He was engrossed in this until the end of the first act, when Humbert said to Lolita, "Your mother is dead." ”

The scene was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

On the curtain bra.

After a while, there was a chatter on the first floor,

"Sure enough, I didn't act out of the ordinary at all."

"But I still think it's good-looking!"

"Lu's original book, adapted by George Bernard Shaw. The drama produced by their golden duo must be a masterpiece. ”

……

2nd floor box,

George Bernard Shaw laughed so hard that his mouth was about to crack,

"Lu, do you hear me?! People say we're a 'golden partner'! ”

Lu Shi said helplessly: "You are obviously a person who can win the Nobel Prize in Literature, can you pursue it a little?" ”

George Bernard Shaw said, "When the time comes, you fill out the nomination form for me." ”

The two brag.

At this time, Zena whispered: "Just now, did my sister temporarily change her performance?" After Sir Owen said the phrase 'your mother is dead', she first pushed the other away before she stepped forward to hug him again? ”

When the three men heard this, they were all stunned.

After a while, Lu Shi said: "It's really better to act like this." ”

Lolita's passion for Humbert, most of which comes from rebellion,

The object of her rebellion was, of course, her mother.

Therefore, when she learned of her mother's death, she instantly fell into confusion, and her enthusiasm for Humbert also dissipated.

But she was still a child, and she could only rely on Humbert, helpless.

Phyllis did a good job of playing out the tangled in it.

And Zena can see it, which shows that her acting skills are also very good.

Barry sighed,

"Unfortunately, I can't afford to hire Miss Dale...... Forehead...... I can't afford an actor like Miss Zena Dyer. ”

He has written several children's plays, but they have only been staged in small theaters, and the response has not been great.

Zena asked curiously: "Mr. Barry, Professor Lu, Mr. Xiao, what is the focus of children's literature on literature?" Or children? ”

"This ......"

Barry was asked.

Unexpectedly, a little girl asked such sharp questions.

Lu Shi groaned,

He thought of a Chinese magazine -

Children's Literature.

That should be a memory for many people.

For the post-60s and post-70s, it is almost the only choice for children's publications;

For the post-80s and post-90s, it is a bit "out of character", because the content is quite profound, and it can be called a "pure literary powerhouse".

So, Zena's question does have a certain depth.

Barry pondered for a moment,

"Miss Dale, have you read The Magicians of Oz? An American fairy tale that has only been published for more than two years. ”

The Wizard of OZ,

It has a more familiar translation -

The Wizard of Oz.

Zena nodded,

"Read. In the story, Dorothy's three companions are the brainless Scarecrow, the unloving Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. In the end, they all got what they craved. ”

Barry wondered, "Do you think it's good-looking?" ”

Zena said, "Of course it's beautiful. I even think it's better than Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. ”

"Poof~"

Barry laughed.

Lu Shi couldn't help but be surprised,

"What's so funny about that?"

"I just think it's very funny that the British work ends up losing to the American hillbilly," Barry said. ”

George Bernard Shaw nodded,

"That's true."

Lu Shi looked at the two of them, and then remembered that they were all "hillbillies",

One is Scottish,

One is Irish.

So, what I just said was a bit ridiculous.

But they're not pure ridicule either,

Because The Wizard of Oz came out at a time when American culture and American literature were eager to gain independence from Britain,

This period is known as the period of modern American literature, and many literati took it upon themselves to construct American culture and spirit.

Barry turned to Zena and said, "But generally speaking, for adults, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland will look better than The Wizard of Oz." Perhaps, this is the conflict between literature and children. ”

Zena: "Huh? "With a bang,

"Why?"

"Because the former has a lot of hints and metaphors, it can't help but be thought-provoking and very pleasing to adult readers; The latter, on the other hand, is too detached, with poor connectivity between chapters, and adult readers are prone to distraction, and once distracted, it is difficult to renew concentration. ”

Zena was stunned,

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has a metaphor?"

Barry spread his hands and said, "Of course." For example, in Chapter 7, "A Mad Tea-party", there are three characters at the tea party. ”

Zena tilted her head and recalled,

"Mad hatter, March hare, dormouse."

"I'll just talk about the Mad Hatter," Barry said. Have you ever heard the phrase 'as mad as a hatter'? This is said because the hatters of the time often treated their furs with mercury, so they were more or less poisoned and caused mental lesions. ”

Zena: "......"

Flashing big eyes, staring at Barry.

A row of silence,

“……”

“……”

“……”

The atmosphere was eerie.

"Goo......

Barry finally couldn't help but swallow and whispered, "Miss Dale, I'm not right?" ”

Zena sighed,

"Alas...... I don't know this, it doesn't affect my study. ”

It looks like saying, "Stupid adult~"

Barry was embarrassed.

The other two watched from the sidelines, trying to keep their faces from laughing.

George Bernard Shaw winked subtly at Lushi,

"It seems that children have to be more important than literature."

Lu Shi didn't say anything.

Actually, this is also a question he has been thinking about recently.

I talked to James before, and he came up with the idea of writing children's literature.

The first work that comes to mind must be "The Little Prince",

The success of this fairy tale goes without saying.

Although it is only a three-month work in one go, it has a profound creative background, which is the product of the accumulation of years or even decades of life and emotions of the author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

In the same way, he also has the conflict between children and literature,

Mentioned in the fairy tale:

Roses, street lamps, foxes, snakes......

Combined with the background of the era of creation, it is absolutely impossible to say that there is no hint in it.

Lu Shi is pondering,

Zena suddenly spoke,

"Mr. Barry, there's no need to think so complicated. For example, I don't know anything about the Mad Hatter, but I still praise Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. ”

Barry was surprised,

"Don't you prefer The Wizard of Oz?"

Zena struggled not to roll her eyes,

She didn't even bother to answer.

Lu Shi looked at this little girl, and suddenly realized that he might be thinking a little too much,

Writing "The Little Prince" was studied with various metaphors, and if the little prince knew about it, he would definitely say, "Only adults ask so many whys." ”

Barry seems to have a similar thought, and is meditating.

At this moment,

Knock –

Downstairs there was another drum beating.

The second act of Lolita begins.

This scene follows Lolita as she travels with Humbert until she finally partes ways.

Because of the excellent acting skills of the two leading actors, the audience was all engrossed and watched quietly,

In the theater of Nuoda, only the sound came from the stage.

This kind of quietness gave Lu Shi an environment to think, and he began to plan what to write in his heart.

Since it is necessary to set up a children's literature section for the "Mirror", then "The Little Prince" is undoubtedly the best choice for the first hit.

The key lies in the follow-up,

After all, fairy tales have a very small word count.

If you want to develop in the long term, then there are two options,

1. Serialization;

2. Establish an independent children's literature magazine.

Lu Shi couldn't help but think of "Harry Potter" again,

It just so happened that after the serialization of "The Lord of the Rings" ended, the excellent feature was not continued for the time being.

And "Harry Potter" has seven copies, which can be updated to the end of the day.

On top of that, it has a very wide readership.

Ha fans are all ages.

Of course, there is another option -

The Chronicles of Narnia.

From a literary point of view, this film was as famous as "The Lord of the Rings" back then,

Later, it fell behind because of the failure of its secondary creation,

For example, the last installment in the series, The Chronicles of Narnia: Dawn Treader, was released in 2011 and has not been a new work since.

This will inevitably be popular with "The Lord of the Rings", not to mention "Harry Potter", which even has a lot of fanworks on online platforms.

Just as she was thinking about this, Zena's voice sounded: "Professor Lu? ”

Lu Shi came back to his senses,

"How?"

Zena asked curiously, "Do you want to write children's literature?" ”

In an instant, Barry and George Bernard Shaw pricked up their ears.

Lu Shi smiled: "Am I acting so obviously? ”

This is equivalent to admitting it.

Barry almost stood up in excitement,

He said, "Professor Lu, do you really want to devote yourself to the creation of children's literature? With your help, you will definitely be able to bring a trend! ”

George Bernard Shaw knows more about Lu Shi,

He pursed his lips,

"I'm afraid I want to 'salvage' the reputation of the Innocence Trilogy and "The Moon and Sixpence"~"

This is undoubtedly a joke.

Lu Shi nodded at the other party with a smile and did not answer.

Zena was puzzled: "Redeem your reputation? Professor Lu's reputation is very good! ”

George Bernard Shaw couldn't help but laugh,

"After watching "Hunting", "Lolita", and "Lord of the Flies", I'm afraid some people will think that he is psychologically dark~"

Zena: (ˉ▽ ̄~) Cut~~

"Even we kids don't think Professor Lu is gloomy, how can anyone ...... Hmph~"

The little girl raised her nose,

Looking at that appearance, it seemed to muttered in my heart again:

"Stupid adult~"

(End of chapter)