The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-07 00:00:00

Princess's Theatre,

Last night a new three. act drama, by Mr Slotte,
author of "The Templar," was produced at this
theatre. The drama is entitled "Light and
adow," but why or wherefore we cannot imagine,
for it is in no degree appropriate to the piece itself,
which is framed on one of the incidents said to have
occurred in Paris during the regency of Phillip of
Orleans, memorable in history by the rise of John
Law's speculative mania known as the great Mishis-
sippi scheme, during which great fortunes were
both lost and won in a few days, sometimes in a fel'
hours. The incident taken by Mr. Slous is that
related of the hunchback of the Rue Quin-
campoix, who, it is said, was enabled to
achieve a colossal fortune by, in the first
Instance, letting his hump as a writing desk
during the ❑igb of the scheme, and, then, like
otheis, joining in the scheme, but, unlike the maje'

rity, securing his fortune, which he had so hazard-
ously woa. The character of the hunchback wag
sustained by Mr. Dominick Murray, wr,o a abort
time ago made a very favourable debut at this
theatre. At the commencement of the play Flare,
the hunchback, is secretary to the proud and au'
tiquated nobleman, and although aware of the
wildness of his passion, he secretly nourishes his
passion. The lady, of coarse, has a lover, and this
person nearly kills the poor fellow by knocking him
down while galloping his horse. Whilst suffering
from his injuries, he hears that the marquis,
his master, is about to pull down his
mother's cottage, in order to increase the
beauty of the pleasure grounds. The hunchback
pleads in vain for time, as removal would be death
to his sick mother. The mother dies while the
heuse is being razed, and the hunchback, frantic at

he news, aMcks the mazquis. For this he is cast

into the Bastille, where he is left forgotten for five
years. The old marquis's daughter procures hie
discharge, and then, sick and friendless, he goes to
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the Rue Quincampoix, and then becomes mixed up
in the speculation mania. He becomes rich, the
marquis becomes poor; the lady's lover is reported
dead, Gild her brother is under sentence of death as
an attainted traitor. Pierre has become all power-
ful it, i!.fluence with the Regent, and the marquis
and his daughter seek him to obtain par-
don for their relative. At first he refuses,
but his love for the lady makes him re-
lent. He saves the young man's life, and then
Clarisse con9ents to become the wife of the hunch-
back. Everything is arranged for the wedding,
but the former lover of the lady arrives, and then.
Pierre magnanimously foregoes his claim on the
lady's hand, and the young couple are indebted
for the blissful happiness to the once despised
hunchback. Mr. Dominick Murray gave a very
vivid representati n of the part, and showed, by
the force and intensity of his conception, high
abilities as an actor. Mr. David Fisher has a
capital part—a rough French peasant—which be
played remarkably well; and Mr. J. W. Ray Bus"
rained the part of the old Marquis with great
judgment.

The play was a complete success ; and at the fall
of the curtain the whole of the artistes were called
for to receive the applause of a very crowded house•