THE QUEEN'S THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 4156, 22 June 1876, Page 2

THE QUEEN'S THEATRE.

On the occasion of Mr J. L, Byers's faiewell benefit at the Queen's Theatre last evening, " Incognita," a sensational drama, written by himself, was produced. The plot is founded on a serial tale, entitled "The Companions of the Chain," which appeared in the * London Journal' Borne years The drama is somewhat incongruous, and requires considerable pruning, there being no less than forty-eignt scenes and nearly as many murders in the course of the play. The prologue is laid in an Indian jungle, where Lord Brandon, an officer of the English army, is severely wounded. He entrusts the custody of his wife and child to Captain Bloodworth, an officer under him, and Bloodworth, finding that Brandon is likely to recover, stabs him. Bloodworth atterwards wishes to marry the daughter (Nelly), in order to obtain her fatWs wealth, but finding that his offers aMT rejected he has the girl abducted and Incognita, a waif, substituted in her place. The deception, is all but complete, and things | work smoothly for a time. In all his inf trigues Bloodworth is aided and abetted by I Jabez Jamrack (an individual with as many aliases as the chameleon has colors) and by I the other representatives of the Companions of the Cham, a secret society of ruffians. Eventually Lord Brandon, who has been detained by the Sikhs, returns to England, falls into the hards of Jamrack's gang, and is confined in the same vault as his abducted daughter. By the aid of. Devilskin, an imp brought up with this gang, their escape is effected, and the drama ends in the discomfiture of the Companions of the Chain, and the murder of its principal members. Nelly and her father are restored to their rightful possessions, but the audience are left to ferret out the fate of Incognita. Mrs Byers had plenty to do in the dual character of Incognita and Nelly, and though overweighted at times she gave a fairly successful representation of the part. Mr Byers played capitally as Jabez Jamrack, the Chief of the Companions of the chain, and was well supported by Messrs Eeogh as Boldistone, Clinton as Flashington, and Saville as Bloodworth. Miss Willis's Devilskin was the best played part in the piece, and she surprised tho audience by ner really capital acting when exhibiting her defiance of jifether Beelzebub (Miss Vivian) in the last act. The points in the character were prominently brought out, and the audience were exceedingly lavish in their applause, the lateness of the hour at which the performance concluded (1 a.m.) alone preventing her being called before the curtain at the close of the play. Mrs Hill, as Lady Caatleyille, and Mr Steele, as Lord Brandon, had only secondary parts, but both characters were made the most of. The comic element was entrusted to Mr Stoneham, who made a capital monkey. We had almost forgotten to mention that there was a full house. Tonight "Behind the Curtain " will constitute ' the performance.