THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6095, 31 May 1881, Page 5

THEATRE ROYAL.

" The Duke's Motto " was produced yesterday evening—Herr Bandmanu in the triple role of Henri Lagardere, .'Esop the Hunchback, and Henriques the Armourer; Sir. J. F. Cathcart as the Duke de Gonzaque, Mr. C. Hall in the double role of Phillipe D'Orleans and the Duke de Nevers, Miss Louise Beaudet as Blanche dc Nevers, Miss Louise Crawford as Blanche de Caillu, and Miss Lucy Ashton as Pepita. This is a romantic play, in which the change of situation and the principal character create the main interest. It consists of a prologue and three acts. In the prologue Gonzaque hires Lagadere to receive into his possession tho child of de Nevers, the issue of a secret marriage with Blanche de Caillu. De Nevers and Lagadere are supposed to be enemies, but both being set upon by assassins in the pay of Gonzaque, they fight in mutual defence. De Nevers is killed, and Lagadere devotes his life to tho service of the infant child, making a vow to restore her to her rank and rights. Gonzaque marries the widow of de Nevers, and is interested in preventing the descent of the estates to the daughter, who is supposed to be a foundling. Lagadere, who is beloved by Blanche, assumes disguises to defeat her secret foes, among others that of a black hunchback. He hires himself to Gonzaque with the feigned purpose of securing the death of Blanche de .Nevers. But in this disguise he marries her. The performance of yEsop by Herr Bandmann is another of his very strong parts. He possesses unusual skill in " making up " and tho arrangement of stage business. He was loudly applauded at the fall of the curtain, and had to come to the front twice in obedience to the call of the audience. Miss Beaudet was, as usual, naive, graceful, and impressive. The performance appeared to give great satisfaction. Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is underlined for this evening.