THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5310, 2 April 1878, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

The strong gale blowing last evening was scarcely an inducement for people to go out of doors, but the production of “ The Danicheff ” at the Theatre Eoyal caused a large number to attend. Danicheff is the name of an old and characteristically proud Eusaian family. The epoch is 1851, during the reign of the inflexible Nicholas, and before the emancipation of the serfs. The scene of the first act is in the palace of the Dowager Countess of Danicheff. She is a weman who does not represent the moral virtues. She loves her son Vladimir, and she is ambitious that he should contract a good alliance. She has had brought up in her family a young serf named Anna, with whom the Count has fallen in love. This attachment becomes known to the Countess. As a matter of course the mother is angry, and the sou is obstinate. The Countess promises that if he will during a year’s stay in M oscow give himself the opportunity of falling in love with Princess Lydia of Valanoff, he shall marry Anna, if by that time he has not resolved to marry the princess. With this understanding he leaves for Moscow, and immediately the Countess takes steps to make sure that Anna shall not be her daughter-in-law, and marries her to her groom Ossip, Ossip consents to marry only that he may act as her protector nntil his master returns, when he hopes that legal measures may be taken to divorce them; and Anna can become Vladimir’s wife. In the second act we are taken to-Moscow, where

we are introduced to some curious Russian society, and. where Vladimir hears, of hi? mother’s treachery, and a scene of bitter ret preach ensues, Vladimir swearing he. will kill both Ossip and Anna, and himself afterwards. In the third act we find Vladimir in Ossip s house heaping the bitterest reproaches on the latter. He threatens to kill him, but Ossip calmly assures him that although married Anna has been to him only as a sister. In the fourth act Ossip astonishes them all by a heroic act of self-sacrifice in turning monk, it being the law of Russia that anyone entering into holy orders is dead to the world. Thus ends one of the finest pieces written for many years. The manner in which the piece was produced was highly creditable to the management, who have made the stage arrangements as perfect as possible, and given a strong cast to the characters. Allowing for the piece being new to the company, they worked well together, and met with the appreciative plaudits of the audience, Mr. Sothcru's Vladimir Danicheff was an able impersonation. Mrs. Hill, as the imperious Countess, gave an excellent rendition of the part. .Another well rendered character was that of the Baroness Dozene by Miss Mary Bell. This young lady exhibited remarkable aptitude for the part in which she appeared, and promises with more experience to make a most excellent actress. The performance, which passed off remarkably well, will be repeated this evening.