FRENCH CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 129, 3 June 1935, Page 16

FRENCH CLUB

The French Circle held its usual fortnightly meeting last Thursday, the president (Prof. F. F. Miles) presiding. Madame Bendall directed the conversation circle and Miss Mackay (assistant secretary) received. Mrs. M. H. Green was in charge of the programme, which . was opened by Miss Dorothy Buck with a piano solo, followed by songs from Mrs. Harvey. Then came a Marlvaux comedy, "Arlequin poli par l'amour," which was introduced by Madame Bendall, who spoke briefly regarding the play and its author. The chief roles were filled by Mesdames Green and Finlayson, and Misses Pharazyn and Hursthouse. The minor parts were taken by Mrs. Harvey and Miss C. Smythson, Miss Young being a shepherdess. Dancing incidental to the piece was supplied by Miss Frances Muter (soloist), and Misses Edmondson, Buck, McLay, and Smythson, whilst Mrs. C. Stephens was responsible for appropriate music The back-cloth for the pastoral scene (in which the picturesque costumes showed to advantage) was the work of Miss M. Pearson. The comedy was of special interest, being the play with which Marivaux, poet and novelist, also made his real debut as dramatic author in 1720. It is asserted that comedy took an entirely fresh turn with Marivaux and that he was a deliberate innovator. Critics say that he wrote in delicate style but without weakness, and that it is his imitators (not himself) who are guilty of Marivaudage, a word still used to indicate excessive subtlety of thought and overrefinement of style, and which came into use after the appearance of his remarkable novel "La Vie de Marianne." No one, it is claimed, excelled him in the art described by Voltaire as weighing flies' eggs in gossamer scales. He was an artist in depicting shades of feeling, and a wonderful analyst of emotions. Certain writers point out that as an original novelist he occupies a not inconsiderable place among those who are remarkabla without being great. Although not to be classed as one of France's great writers, so deep an impression did his work make that it was observed that if the mantle of Racine (though considerably diminished) fell on anyone, it must have alighted on Marivaux. His plays (the most important of which are "Le Jeu de I'Amour et dv Hasard" and "Les Fausses Confidences"), were mostly written for the Comedie Francaise and for a very popular Italian comedy which appear ed in France. At the conclusion of the play refreshments were served, and Mrs. Green and her cast were complimented upon an enjoyable Berform.ance.