Claude Duval – or Love and Larceny is a comic opera with music by Edward Solomon to a libretto by Henry Pottinger Stephens. The plot is loosely based on supposed events in the life of the seventeenth century highwayman, Claude Duval. The piece was first produced at the Olympic Theatre, London, on 24 August 1881, under the management of Michael Gunn. It ran until the end of October. From January to March 1882, a D'Oyly Carte touring company played the work in the British provinces. Another D'Oyly Carte company played it in New York in March and April 1882 under Richard D'Oyly Carte's personal supervision, in tandem with Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience. In New York, a few local references were interpolated into Blood-red Bill's comic song, "William's Sure to Be Right." Roles and early casts [[File:Pot-stephens-edward-solomon-punch.jpg|thumb|Librettist and composer caricatured in Punch'''s review of the first performance]] Claude Duval – F. H. Celli Charles Lorrimore – George Power Sir Whiffle Waffle – Arthur Williams Martin McGruder – Charles Ashford Captain Harleigh – Clarence M. Leumane Blood-red Bill – Fred Solomon Boscatt – Harold Russell Hodge – Mr. Goldie Podge – Cooper Cliffe Constance – Marion Hood Rose – Edith Blande Mistress Betty – Harriet Coveney Dolly – Nellie Sanson Mary – Daisy Foster Prudence – May Lennox Kenia – Violet Dare Barbara – Miss Beaumont In the 1882 D'Oyly Carte tour, which played in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, Duval was played by G. Byron Browne; Lorrimore by George Traverner; Blood-red Bill by George Thorne; McGruder by J. B Rae; Constance by Laura Clement; Rose by Kate Chard; Boscatt by H. Cooper Cliffe; and Mistress Betty by Miss Jones. Cooper Cliffe deputised for Browne who was taken ill in Edinburgh. In the New York company, Duval was played by William Carleton; Blood-red Bill by J. H. Ryley; Sir Whiffle Waffle by Arthur Wilkinson; and McGruder by W. H. Hamilton. Plot The following synopsis is condensed from the plot summary printed in The Era's review of the premiere. Act 1 In 1670 at Newmarket Heath, Duval's gang of highwaymen are disguised as gypsy fortune-tellers, and local maidens come to have their fortunes told. Charles Lorrimore arrives; he has attached himself to the losing faction at court and is fleeing from arrest. The gang captures him, but Duval has met Lorrimore before and likes him. Lorrimore tells Duval that he is in love