Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-03-05
Le Roptccn:s Gentilhornc.

" Hti IL was announcer tlat
lie bourgeois GeRfilk0mme. by
was to be presented in
public by the students of the
Frehch Department Of the Uni
;ersity, We remembered the
French play given by them last
year, and, accordingly, set our
expectations high. I. is an an
tcrstatement Of the truth to say
that the performance upon the
chapel stage last Saturday eve
ming was not a disappointment.
In fact, we have but seldom the
opportunity CT seeing 80 good a
play SO well acted.
\ large audience greeted the
student-players, and showed its
appreciation of their work by
close attention throughout the
play, and by frequent outbursts
OF laughter and applause.
The music before the curtain
was furnished by the University
orchestra. The music of the
plav, the original composition by
LUlli. was w | rendered by NJ $
Lynette KimmJns.
The costumes were Of the rich.
picturesque fashion of the sew
enteeth century. The stage was
tastefGlly furnished in ANTIQUE
style.
Mr.. Olust Dedeaux, as NJ. Jour-
dain, not only sustained the repu-
tdtion that he made last wear as
NJ. Argan in lie .Nglade Tmrqi-
"aire. but gave fresh proof of his
powers, and won fresh laurels.
His JOY in fine clothes and in
cheap music, and his skill in
fencing, his peculiar grace in the
minuet and his prodigious bow.
the glory of his metamorphos
from Freedman into Turk and
the startling unconventionality
Of his manners at table. all have
an assured place among our lu-
dIcruus memories.
Miss Mary Glenn. as Nadine
Jourdain, and Miss Jennie Ben
son rs Lucille showed no near
talent. Mr.. Eric Dawson de.
serves special mention for hi.
very clever acting Of the Dancing
master, and of Clionte, lover Of
Lucille.
The dance bp Misses Dunbar
Aagee, Smith and Kimmons wa.
so graceful as to dispose one C
take seriously their masters rec.
2umendation Of his art.
Miss Magee is the Marchiones
I and Mr.. Busby as Dorante play
81 their parts well and were wei
received. Much credit IS du,
also 70 Mr. L. Il. Ratclifle VIII,
played Covielle, Ciionte's valet
and sutton for the hand OF Nicole
Miss Edna Bufl,in in the par
lof Nicole distinguished hersel
IS an actress Of considerable.
ability. She was delightful,
natura! upon the stage, ard ne
laughter was merry and conta.
giou5.
The lorer5' quarrel was yer,
amusing, and their reconciliatio:
brought Gown the house,
Mr.. +. Burnett the Music mas,
ter, IN spite Of his recent illness
was IN good voice, and sang well
Mr.. Foete as the Philosophel
and as lie Mutt. and Mr.. Roo.
ertson as the Fencing Master. re-
celved much deserved praise
Mr.. Busby Is the Tailor, Messrs
Leaveil, MeCorkIe, Trutter and
VIM, as Tailor boys, and Messrs
Phlpps and Robertson as walters
gave strong support to the play,
The Turks with their coiorey
costumes, their jargon OF tongues
and their grotesque ceremony
excited much interest and amuse-
ment.
This delightful entertainment
reflected great credit not only
upon the actors and musicians.
but especially upon DR.. Calvin
). Brown under whose direction
the play was given, and not only
upon the Department Of Romance
Languages but also upon the
University in general.
In truth, the parts were so well
acted that the story OF the play
could be followed even by those
OF Us who use such French as
: spoken by people who do not
speak French" The story.
moreover, has a heightened IN
terest on account OF It's applica-
bility to our own times, these
lmes OF the aristocracy of the
dollar"
As Louandra, speaking of NJ.
Jourdain, says: Ills vanity has
changed its Object, but at bottom
1t has remained the same. And
It Is just because we all know
nim tnat the Bourgeois Gentil-
homme' is still one of the most
pleasing and popular of the
works Of MoIiere. +"