CHARMINGLY PRESENTED PLAYS.

The outdoor performances yesterday afternoon and yesterday evening of Shakspere's "As You Like It" and the "Comedy of Errors," were events to be remembered long. Not before in Cambridge, and perhaps but seldom anywhere, have such plays as these been presented in such fitting surroundings as those of yesterday, and with such excellent acting as that of Mr. Greet's Woodland Players.

The weather was perfect at both performances. In the afternoon, the outdoor stage at the south end of the quadrangle back of Sever Hall, was lighted by the sun that slanted through the trees around it, and the green of the leaves and all the exquisitely natural arrangements of the stage touched the whole scene with illusion of some glade in the forest of Arden. One became oblivious after a time even to the occasional rattle of a wagon or sound of a voice outside that alone broke the stillness of the theatre.

Of the acting, scarcely too much can be said. Graceful, and charming, appealing alike in moments of seriousness and gaiety. Miss Matthison gave a portrayal of Rosalind that satisfied one's desires and ideas for the character, even while it enlarged the consciousness of what these ideals might be. Mr. Greet, as Jaques, though somewhat more meditatively good-humored than suits the customary idea of the "melancholy" Jaques, was consistently excellent in his acting of the part as he interpreted it. Mr. Henry Hadfield played the part of the banished Duke with dignity and effectiveness: Mr. Stanley Drewitt, as Orlando, though inclined to speak some-what too loudly and to be--as, for instance, in his challenge for food in the forest,--more vigorous than was pleasing, played his part with skill and a grace that made him appear well even in the comparison with Miss Matthison's acting, which the close connection of his part with her's inevitably suggested. The acting of the members of the company in the parts other than these four was well-rounded and consistently good; the choruses, even though somewhat lacking in volume, added much to the beauty and charm of the performance.

At the performance of the "Comedy of Errors," in the evening, the deep shadows in the foliage, the faint reflection in the upper branches and, above, the moonlit sky, made a background fit for the "Midsummer Night's Dream"--and one wished for a moment it were to be given. But the "Comedy of Errors" as presented left no regreis. A peculiarly difficult play to act with just enough vigor to emphasize its broad comedy and yet not overdo its farce,--it was given with admirable balance and admirably restrained strength.

The play, offering less prominence to individual excellence than "As You Like It," showed the uniform strength of the company. Mr. Ben Greet and Mr. C. Rann Kennedy the two Dromios, showed unusual appreciation and restraint, avoiding the buffoonery so often substituted for the humor of their lines. A nice discrimination was noticeable between the impersonation of Antipholus the Ephesian and Antipholus of Syracuse. A real difference in attitude, the difference between native citizen and stranger, stood out clearly in both characters throughout the tangles of mistaken identity.

As "Adriana," wife to Antipholus of Ephesus, Miss Matthison repeated her success of the afternoon in a part as different from that of "Rosalind" as could well be found in comedy. That the latter was better suited to her there can be little doubt; yet the courage and naturalness with which she carried through the stormy scene with her supposed husband has seldom been equalled. Even more striking was the depth and purity of her voice, which, without apparent effort, easily reached the entire audience. In her lines, as in Mr. Greet's, the rhythm of the words was retained without undue prominence of metre,--a rare and delightful medium. Specially good during the entire play was the interpretation of meaning by accent and gesture. Several lines, ordinarily rather vague, were given life and significance by the thoughtful attention to detail which marked every scene.

The order of the performances today will be the reverse of that of yesterday. The "Comedy of Errors" will be given in the afternoon at 4 o'clock and "As You Like It" at 8 o'clock. The conditions under which the performances will take place and the casts of the two plays will be the same as was announced yesterday.

The ushers for the performances this afternoon and evening will be as follows: E. F. Breed, A. Black, C. G. Loring, R. A. Wood, R. Ernst, M. Hale, H. W. L. Dana, H. St., Gaudens, S. Burton, R. Wellman, G. Clark, A. B. Parson, R. A. Dean, J. D. Williams.