FRENCH CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 88, 11 October 1937, Page 14

FRENCH CLUB

COMEDY AND BALLET

At the last reunion of , the Cercle Francais an interested audience assembled in the Pioneer Club's .Recep-tion-room to witness the first appearance on a Cercle Francais programme of some of its new members, supported by well-known contributors to its entertainments. The Misses I. arid C. Smythson were responsible for the programme, of which the main feature' was an abridgment of "Peg- De Mon Coeur." The name part was taken by Miss Celia Dwyer and ■ the Walton Family were 1 represented by Miss Trundle, Miss Roma Crick, and Dr. A. C. : Keys, whilst Miss\ Use Chauvet and Mr. E. J. Hills were the Waltons' domestic staff. Mr. Wynne Mason had the role of the "gentlemanfarmer" (Jerry), and Mr. John Beckett that of - the philanderer Chris. Brent. The lawyer Hawkes was played by Professor F. F. Miles. The setting of the play was modern and in the second act Miss Dwyer looked well in a modish red evening frock; Trundle: was a handsome figure in blue, and Miss Crick was elegant and dignified in style even in the act of eloping. Miss Chauvet was very trim and attractive., in her maid's uniform.

Mr.' Balham first gave a short synopsis of th-j early part of the play, leaving the onlookers to see-how it ended for themselves. Mr. Hills attended to the book and matters off-stage. The performers, new and old, rwerel applauded, and the cheerful comedy was considered very successful. , Supporting items were three scenes from, well-known plays: One . from Shakespeare's. "Comme il vous plaira" .(arranged by George Sand)', in which the part -of Celia was' taken' by Miss Use Chauvet and -that of Rosalinde by ; Miss.Nancy Ackland. ■ -, The nuns' scene from "Cyrano de Bergerac" (Edmond Rostand) in which Misses Mary Durrad, Frances Kissling, and Marjorie Crick represented Mere Marguerite, Soeur Marthe, and Soeur Claire ■ respectively; and the wellknown scene from Moliere's "Le Tartuffe," in which Misses Mary .Hursthouse and Vivienne Raff appeared as Dorine and Mariane, To conclude the programme there was a lively and .amusing ballet ("Joujoux Vivants"), in which the toy parts were: tarantella dancers, Margaret McLay and Dorothy Key; operatic dancer, Dorothy, Edmonson; white and blue giri, and .white and gold boy, Coralie Smythson and Frances Muter; Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Valmai Paulin and Dorothy Buck. The tarantella dancers wore effective striped costumes and- shook their tambourines with mechanical pre cision; the operatic dancer was striking in yellow and was also noticeable for her toe-work and the affability with which she kissed her hands to the audience. The engaging blue and_ white doll was cleverly partnered by the white and gold boy, and they maintained the character without th# flicker of an eyelash, and from smart cap ..and yellow wig to little feet were the jointed doll par excellence. . Mickey and Minnie were outstanding in black-and-white costumes, complete of course with animal heads and tails; Minnie was quite chic with white boots and was both coquettish and coy nvresponse to Mickey's overtures. The ballet was heartily encored. Mrs. A. C. Keys officiated at the piano, Madame Bendall conducted the conversation circle, and Miss Meau received. Mr. W. F. C. Balham (president), presided, and Miss Huntington supervised supper. ■

If new boots do not polish readily, rub them with the cut half of a fresh lemon. Let it dry on, then polish in the usual way. ' ,