The Sun.
London, England, 1835-02-18 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

A new drama, froM the pen of Mr. Jerrold, wars last night
produced here. It is entitled The Hazard fl the Die, and
might, not unaptly, be described as a tale of the French revo-
lution. The story is one of melancholy interest; and, though
rather obscure and intricate in its details, is wrought up with
so much skill and effect, as to enchain the attention from the
beginning to the end of the,performance. The scene is laid,
in Paris, the period the reign of terror, when that blood-thirsty-
demagogue, Robespierre, aided by agents as reckless and as •
remorseless as himself, consigned so many hapless victims
to the scaffold. The great feature of the piece is this :-
-The family of Duvigne is denounced, as favouring aristocratic
principles. David Duvigne (Mr. Wallack), who has been a.
dissipated gambler, suddenly repents him of the evil of his:
ways, and determides to rescue his family from impending
ruin. His brother, Charles Duvigne (Mr. Cooper), is ar-
rested, and the same misfortune has overtaken St. Ange
(Mr 4 Baker) the father of Violette (Miss Lee) the betrot'aed
bride of Charles. David, by feigning himself a the-rough
friend to the prevailing system of blood, procures admission to
the prison. He tampers with the gaoler, Bineu (Mr. Bed-
ford) who agrees to facilitate the escape of his brother, pro-
vided that a douceur of 400 crowns is forthcoming. David
possesses only 20G crowns, and he leaves the prison for the
purpose, if posP,lble, of raising the defitit. Unfortunately, he
enters a garabling-house ; and unable to resist his old propen-
sity, he stakes his 200 crowns, which very quickly change
hang. While he is raging in a paroxysm of despair at his
the tolling of a distant bell, and the beating of drums,
give token of a fresh sacrifice at the miscalled shrine of liberty.
David hastens to the window, and beholds his brother
amongst the victims. After an appalling burst of insanity,
he falls senseless on the floor. At this moment, a joyful shout
is heard, and the glad tidings are announced, that the ty-
ranny and the life of Robespierre are at an end. Reason
gradually assumes her empire over the mind of David Du-
vigne, and on awaking from the fearful reverie of madness,
he finds himself clasped in the embraces of his beloved
brother, and surrounded by his again happy family. Delighted
with this unexpected change from misery to joy, he renounces
once and for ever the detestable vice of gaming. This is a
meagre outline of the plot, which embraces a variety of other
characters, drawn in a very spirited style, and all cleverly as-
sisting in the production of the denouement. The drama is
remarkably- well written. Mr. Wallack sustained the charac-
ter of David Duvigne with great ability, and he was ably se-.
conded by Mr. Cooper as Charles Duvigne. The character
of Aristides Kalmer was cleverly supported by Mr. Warde.
Kalmer is a renegade Jew, who, in the heighth of the revoke-
tionarr mania, has thrown aside the scriptural name of.Mor,es,
and adopted the more classical designation of Aristides. Mr.-
Webster did ample justice to the part of Cato Grgps, one of
the denouncing agents of the President. The play was emi-
nently successful. Mr. Wallack was called for, and. made his
obeisance amidst the plaudits of the audience.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT AND VHE ELECTION
OF SPEAKER.—An ENLARGED DISPATCH Will be rlublished on
Sunday neat, the 22d instant.