Plots of Cercle Francais Plays

The Cercle Francais will present this year, as its twentieth annual production, Moliere's "Le Medecin Malgre Lui," as set to music by the famous composer, Gounod. This will be the first operetta ever presented by the society. In addition there will be a short one-act play, entitled "Le Chapeau d'un Orloger," which has been substituted for the play first selected, "Le Bonhomme Jadis," as it is of a more humorous character.

There will be three performances, two in Brattle Hall on December 11 and 13, respectively, and one in Jordan Hall, Boston, on December 15. More candidates are desired, especially for the female parts. Both plays will be coached by M. Perrin.

"Le Medecin Malgre Lui" is one or Moliere's most characteristic satires of his cherished laughing-stock, the doctors. Squarelle is a drunken woodcutter, who ill-treats his wife, Martine. She seizes an opportunity for revenge, when Valere and Lucas, servants of Geronte, come in search of a doctor for their master's daughter, Lucinda, who, to avoid an unwelcome marriage, feigns dumbness. Martine tells the servants that her husband is a learned physician, but afflicted with an eccentric disinclination to practice his profession unless coerced by a sound thrashing. They seek out the unsuspecting woodcutter, and finding him at his work, force him by blows to admit his imputed profession and accompany them. When he is introduced to his patient, he also meets Leandre, her true lover, who contrives, under the disguise of an apothecary, to arrange an elopement with his mistress, while the supposed doctor engages her father with his professional jargon. When the couple return married. the indignation of Geronte is so great that he is about to hand over the false doctor to the police. Leandre, the objection to whom was his poverty, then informs his father-in-law that through the death of an uncle, he has inherited a large fortune. This pleases the old gentleman and he forgives Squarclle; who, thankful for his rescue from an ignominious death and for his social elevation because of his part in bringing about the marriage, forgives his wife.

"Le Chapeau d'un Orloger" is a humorous play, filled with ridiculous situations in which the butler, the chief actor, places himself. He has broken a very old and valuable clock and, fearing the irritable temper of his master. has bribed the chambermaid to say nothing about it, and also to secure a clockmaker to fix it. The clockmaker comes and examines the clock, but on his departure leaves his hat. The butler hides the hat, but it is found by another servant and brought, to the master, to whom the butler tells many lies to clear himself. He again hides the hat, which, however, is found and brought to the mistress. This is repeated several times, the butler inventing new excuses on each occasion, until he becomes so involved that he is forced to confess, whereupon he is forgiven by the master