The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-09 00:00:00

THE SUN,

ADELPIII THEATRE.

A romantic d atna in three ects, entitled The
Queen's Secret; or, The iron if wcs produced
here last evening with marked success. The hero of
the piece. is the celebrated and mysterious man in the
iron mask, who Is here reuresented tea: be the elder
brother of Louis XLV. The plots is-shied:ly ingeni-
ous (Madame Celeste), who, in the awl, is
doomed to wear the iron mask, hasteen deserted by
his parents, and a reckless adventurer, called the
Chevalier de Rosarges (Webster), is employed by the
Cardinal Mazarin to vsacli over his career. Roland
is travelling through a distant part of :the country of
his birth, when he meets and fells ii love with a
peasant girl—Aline (Nliss Kathleen: -Fitzwilliatn),
and he is on the point of being married to her, when
the nuptial are prevented through. the instrumenta-
lity of the Countess de -Chevreuse (Miss \Vcolgar),
who is aware that a mystery hangs about the birth of
the young lover, and ie accordingly deeply interested
in his we fare. In order to tevour the Countess's
design the Chevalier (but unknown to her) sets fire
to Relaud's mansion, end in the confusion which
ensues the marriage is suspended. Various incidents
follow in rapid succession, and amongst other things
it is discovered that the Chevalier had formerly
seduced an innocent girl, who had since died, leev-
ing an only child. The name and history of this
child forme another episode in the piece, and
serves to increase the mystery which envelopes the
character of the Chevalier. The progress of the plot
also discloses the fact that Roland is toe Queen's son
and the brother of Louis XIV., and immediately
after . this discovery he is consigned to prison under
the circumstances before mentioned. The fates, how-
ever, interpose, through the agency of the aforesaid
Countess, whose influence over the destiny of the
Chevalier is so powerful that she causes an interview
to take place between him and Aline, which leads to
the discovery that the girl is his own child. The
denouement is felicitous and thoroughly melo.dra-
matic. In this juncture he is entreated to favour the
escape of the imprisoned youth, and so completely is
he overcome by compunctions of conscience that he
resolves to atone for his conduct by wearing the iron
mask in Roland's stead, and leaving the youth to fly
from the prison accompanied by his betrothed, who
having partaken of his sorrows, is now determined to
share his joys in a distant land. Mr. Webster played
the Chevalier de Rosarges with great judgment and
effect. His 'make up" was excellent. Miss Wool
gar personated the Countess in her wonted style of
accomplished efficiency. A scene in the third act
between these two excellent performers was most
effectively given and loudly applauded. Miss Fitz.
william displayed much feeling as the peasant
girl, Aline ; and Paul Bedford, as the
stupid, co wardly Baron, afforded exceeding
delight to the audience. Madame Celeste as Roland
was admirable. As the peasant youth, the gallant
cavalier, and the woe-worn prince, in each phase of "
the character in which the hero of the drama is re-
presented, her picturesque appearance and combina-
tion of energy and pathos, rendered the part one of
her most successful roles in melodrama. The play
was announced amid great applause for repetition
every evening until Celeste's departure for America,
whence the frequenters of the Adelphi will ardently
long for her happy return, crowned, if possiele, with
additional laurels. Of this most talented lady a
morning cuncempory happily remarks—" As a
dramatic artist she is, in her own particular line,
uurivalled. For thorough picturesquetress and
artistic grace of appearance, Madame Celeste, in
many or the fantastic parts she loves bat to
play, is quite a phenomenon. Let the playgoer
call to mind the disguises in the Ilipterious
Stronger—r,h fanouul and thoroughly pic-
turesque bearing of Miami in the Green Buxhes—or
the very striking portraiture in The _Flowers qf the
Forest make up' and bearing Melanie Celeste
possesses, indeed, tamest unequalled powers. As an
actress she has always !abound under the disadvan-
tak,e of speaking broken Eaglish, and she is fir from
being tree from mernierisin; but she has perfect in-
telligence—her conception of a pert is singularly vivid
end acute—and she always plays with ueflagging
energy and genuine earnestness, her heart and her
powers thoroughly in the work. Madame Celeste's
management of the Adalphi has been deservedly pros -
oerous. Sne has worked as hard in the arduous ta.k
of getting up' pieces as in performing her own part
in them. Her taste and judgment in the prepara-
tion and arrangement of elaborate scenes and group-
ings
are consummate; and we may add that, per-
sonally, Madame Celeste is as much beloved by the
establishment over which she presides as she is artis-
tically respected and appreciated by the public." The
new piece is, we understand, adapted to the Engli-h
stage by Mr. Webster, whom we congratulate on his
twofold, success, both as adaptor of, and actor in the
Queen's Secret.