THE FRENCH PLAY.

The first presentation of Corneille's "Le Menteur" was given by the Cercle Francais last night in Brattle Hall before a large number of graduates and friends of the club. It was rather a bold step taken by the Cercle Francais when they decided to produce such a play as "Le Menteur." This is by far the most ambitious piece ever presented here and its success was by no means assured, as the play is not easy to act.

The performance last night surpassed anything that has been done previously by the Cercle Francais. Each actor understood that the play was written in a totally different vein from last year's comedy, and in consequence made the gestures and intonations suit the parts. The "finesse" of the comedy was not lost when acted so intelligently.

Most, if not all of the actors spoke their lines clearly, and the delivery was so good that the nationality of the actors was forgotten. One or two, however, in the leading parts showed superiority from the start, although the work of the ensemble was of a higher standard than in the past, and showed great care in preparation. The mistakes in the second act and lack of smoothness in the presentation of the third act were due merely to the nervousness and novelty of a first performance. The play as a whole will undoubtedly go better tonight and during the succeeding performances, and may well be considered as good a performance of "Le Menteur" as can be seen anywhere outside of France.

The first public performance will be given in Brattle Hall tonight at 8 o'clock. Tomorrow afternoon at 2.30 a matinee performance will be given at the Bijou Theatre in Boston, to be followed by the regular Boston performance on Monday evening, December 15, at 8 o'clock. The cast is as follows: Geronte, pere de Dorante,  A. C. Champollion '03. Dorante, le Menteur, F. B. Thompson 1L. Alcippe, ami de Dorante,  W. D. Haviland '03. Philiste, ami d'Alcippe, J. V. Blanchet '05. Clarice, maitresse d'Alcippe,  E. C. Edson '04. Lucrece, amie de Clarice,  G. Jones '05. Isabelle, suivante,  H. D. Brandyce '04. Sabine, femme de chambre,  P. G. Henderson '05. Cliton, valet de Dorante,  K. H. Gibson '04. Lycas, valet,  A. Wellman '05. Dames de cour,  D. Wagstaff '05. A. H. Schefer '03. D. Davis '05. Cavaliers,  H. S. Hutchinson '04. G. A. Bramwell '04. W. C. Clark '03.