CERCLE FRANCAIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 44, 20 August 1938, Page 18

CERCLE FRANCAIS

MUSICAL PROGRAMME

An unusual, programme was presented by. Dr. A. C. Keys at a recent meeting of the Cercle Francais, consisting ;of piano and'orchestral music, old time dance music, a series of set dances to illustrate the history of dancing, and';. finally a comedy. Dr. and Mrs. Keys opened the programme with two Bach Chorales, duets admirably executed.- Danses Paysannes" followed,, "Le roi d'Yvetot," and Handel's "Bourree No. 2," executed by Misses Pat Edwards, Coralie Smythson, E. Margaret McLay, with Mesdames R. FiniaysOn„ Rennie, E. Lash,. S. Young. Miss Frances Muter danced a sarabande by Mouret, the difficult and uncommon movements of which-< won well-merited applause. Handel's Bourree No. 1 was given by Miss F. Muter and Miss C. Smythson, who were also seen iri a gavotte (Bach) with Miss Dorothy Buck and Mrs. -P.-B. Cooke. The two latter also performed a typical minuet of the seventeenth century—the one chosen being that by Lulli as seen in the original performance of Motiere's "Bourgeois Geptilhomme." Dr. Keys gave a running commentary in French and the large audience was delighted at seeing these rare dances so ably executed. A trio by Mendelssohn was performed by Miss Olga Burton, Mrs. J D. W. McKenzie, and Mrs, A. C. Keys,, with commendable smoothness and polish. These performers were then joined by the rest of the orchestra, Miss Ruth Reid, Mr. O. Jones, Mr. N. Clapham (violins), Mrs. J. T. Campbell (viola), Mrs. D. W. McKenzie, and Mr. D. Woodward ('cellos), and Mrs. D. W. McKenzie (clarinet), and gave a spirited and highly appreciated rendering of Tschaikowsky's "La Belle au bois dormant." . - . Finally came one of G. d'Herviliiez' most. brilliant comedies. "Dans la j Jungle." Dr. A. D. Carbery, as the j "Marquis de Guarda," was an aristocratic ' corifiderice man, who, accorii- ] pariied by his very dashing "petite amiei" Miss E. Erhard, proceeded to "take down" the jeweller, "Strosser" (played by Dr. Keys) for a trifling iOO.QOO francs, by an ingenious swindle which " completely bamboozled the jeweller and his able-assistant (Mr. j Eric Grinstead). This was one -of j the cleverest plays seen this season at the Cercle and both the costuming and • acting were of a high standard. [Mesdames Logic and Finlayson received the guests. Next week's programme is in the hands pf Professor F.F.; Miles, Professor G. yon Zedlitz, and Mr. Butler.