CERCLE FRANCAIS PLAYS.

The 'graduates' night rehearsal of the French plays, given last night in Brattle Hall, was a decided improvement over all previous efforts of the Cercle. "Crispin Medecin" and "Un Jeune Homme Presse" are both modern farcial comedies, and are more suited to the inexperienced actors than the plays of previous years. They are both decidedly funny. The French of most of the actors is remarkably clear and fluent, and is easy to understand. The first play is full of ridiculous situations and the second contains considerable witty dialogue. All of the men show the results of careful training.

P. B. Haviland '01 as "Crispin" and "Pontbichet" deserves a good deal of praise for his clever acting in both farces. A. Champollion '02 did some good work in "Un Jeune Homme Presse" and was fairly efficient in the first play. Although W. D. Haviland '02 has a difficult part in "Dardard," the excitable young lover, he fills the role well with very little overacting. The minor parts in "Crispin" were mostly well taken. L. D. Koven '04, especially, was amusing and true to life. The costumes of the men were suitable and good, but the dresses of the women were ill fitting and should be altered before the public performances. The fact that neither the proper scenery nor the Banjo and Mandolin clubs were on hand did not seriously detract from the performances which are well worth seeing.

The first public performance will be on Monday Dec. 17, at 8.30 o'clock in Brattle Hall. The Boston performances will be on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 20 and 21, in Union Hall.