French Club

During the last three years, the V.U.C. French Club has been very active; an average of three meetings has been held in the Little Theatre each year. These are organised by the different stages in turn; already this year the club has had one evening organized by the Honours class, another by the Stage III class. As a general rule they consist of a play—amusing, witty, and sometimes rather risque, a game, the aim of which is to make those present speak French, and usually some music. Several artists have performed for the club—Mr. Mason twice in the last few years, and the Misses E. and M. Castle on the violin and piano. The University Madrigal Group has entertained several times, Dick Hereford has played the piano-accordian and members have all joined in French popular songs on different occasions. Last year the club combined with the Music Department in presenting an evening of French songs sung by Miss H. McKellar and Mr. Donald Munro.

Some of the most successful plays which have been presented recently are "Le Farce de Parquin Fils", which was one of the funniest plays the club has ever presented, "Le Thermometre." by Octave Bernard, "Maison á louer," and "Le Philanthrope malgré lui". Twice the club has organized cabaret evenings which have been a bright change from the usual programmes. Last year, too, the club presented the film "Orphee," by Jean Cocteau. A large number of students who do not ordinarily come to the club's activities saw this film; in fact it was necessary to adjourn to C3 in order to fit everyone in.

Members of the "Cercle franÇais" of Wellington are very good indeed in coming to our evenings, especially Mme. Finlayson and Mme. Logie, and M., Mme. and the Miles. Vivequin. Professor Boyd-Wilson, Miss Huntington and Mr. Carrad always come and take a keen interest in what we are doing. Sometimes we have had talks given by different French people. When M. Hultz de Lemps was hare, he told us all about life in the Latin quarter in Paris, which we found very interesting and instructive. This year Mme. Finlayson talked to us about "The Products of France", especially about the food and wines, a subject which, she felt, is always of interest to students.

Once a year, under the direction of Professor Boyd-Wilson and Miss Huntington, we present an evening at the Town French Club. This always consists of one or more plays. In 1952 the play performed was "Le Médecin malgré lui," by Moliere; in 1951 a very amusing play called "L'Anglais tel qu'on le parle," and last year "Altitude 3,200". This year we are doing three short plays—"Le Chauffeur," by Jules Romains, "La Chance Apprivoisée," by Henri Fontenille, and 'Le Philanthrope malgré lui," by Wilson.