The Sun. — 1851-06-05 (London, England)

THEATRE. A five act version, by. Mr. Slous, the author of the Templar, of Alexandre Dumas' illiademoiselle de Belle isle, which was some few years since tine. of Madlle. Plessy's most popular impersonations it the St. James's Theatre, and in which Idadlle Rachel is, we are told, shortly to appear, was produced at the ROyal Princess's last night, under the title of the Duke's Wager. This is not, however, the first adaptation of this, play that has apppeared on the English stage. Some .ten or twelve years since a version of it was produced at Drurye lane, under the title of A Night in the Bastille, on which oceasiun poor Elton and Mrs. Stirling suse tained the characters which were last night performed by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean. The scene is laid at Chantilly during the early part of the reign of Louis XV., and at the opening of the play we find the Duke de Richelieu (Mr. Altred Wigan) on a visit to the Marchioness de St. Prie (Mrs. Winstauley), formerly a flame of his, but which said flame has long since, so, far as he is concerned, been extinguished. In the very recklessness of prk fligacy he offers a bat .to the young nobles, by whom helis surrounded, that he will induce the first lady they, meet to grant him an asSignation in her chamber at midnight. Now it so happens that the first lady they meet is Mademoiselle Lestelle de Belle Isle (Mrs. Charles Kean), who has ' come to Chantilly to solicit the aid of the. Marchioness de, St. Prie in obtaining for her an interview with her father the Marquis de Belle Isle, who is confined in the Bastille; the Marchioness, who has her own reasons for seeking an interview with Richelieu, procures for Lestelle an order to visit the Bastille, and when Lestelle has eat off for Paris meets Richelieu in Leitelle's eheathet. This trick of comedy, however, threatens to end very tragically, for L-on St. Mars (Mr. Charles Kean), the betrothed of Lestelle, has seen Richelieu deeeending at midnight from the window of the cLatnter occupied by Lestelle, and having known of the bet and staked his honour on the fidelity of his ladye love, he becomes in a state of frenzy. He seeks Lestelle and taxes her with her infidelity, she indignantly denies the, accusation and appesis to Richelieu, who coolly says that certainly the interview did take place, but that if the lady desires it he will for htr sake deny it. The un- , .fortunate Lestelle, conscious of her own innocence, yet not daring to reveal where she had passed the night, sinks senseless to the ground overcome by the agony of her feelings. This scene was admirably acted; the cool nonchalance of Wigan, as Richelieu, contrasting with and setting off most effectively the intensely impassioned acting of Mr; and Mrs. Charles Kean. St. Mars then chilllenges.Riehelieu, bat the arrangement is overheard, and both are arrested and not released until & promise has been extorted from each that the proposed duel shall not take place. St. Mars is not,.however, to be baulked of his revenge, and he proposes that they shall throw the dice to ascertain who of the two shall commit suicide. The offer is accepted and St. Mara loses; Richelieu treats the whole as a joke, but St. Mars prepares to die; he pays a last: visit to Lestelle; but in the meantime a change of Ministry has taken place, her father is: released from the Bastille, and restored to high office, there is no longer any necessity for secresy, and everything is explained. St. Mars, however, still feels himaelf bound, as a man of honour, to commit suicide, and a highly-wrought scene ensues between him .and Lestelle, which is, however, brought to a conclusion by the entrance of the Duke de Richelieu, who acknowledges that he had been mistaken in supposing that he bad had an interview with Madlle. de Belle Isle, and satisfies the sensitive St. Mars that there is n6' 1 necessity whatever for him to commit suicide ; an opinion in which St. Mars seems to agree, and so commits matrimony instead. The translator lies judfdis ously elaborated the tragical portions of the original and kept down the light parts, thus making an interesting dra;na out of what was originally intended as a high comedy. The pathetic and impassioned acting of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean carried the play triumphantly through, 'and its announcement for repetition was received with enthusiastic applause by a house crowded to the ceiling. At the conclusion Mr. and Mai. Charles Kean were called on. The mounting of the play was perfect