ORANGES! RIPE ORANGES!

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18899, 14 January 1927, Page 11

ORANGES! RIPE ORANGES!

"NELL GWYNNB.''

"Oranges! Ripe Oranges'.'' cries prelty ■ Nell-at the door of Drury Lane, and many a theatregoer pauses to purchase her wares, listen to her witty chatter, and gaze upon her peerless beauty. His Sovereign Majesty King Charles the Second, passing with bia courtiers, hoars the Try, and beholds the beauty, which neither, raga nor tatters can conceal. And therewith began a. romance which stands among the great love stories of the world. Based <m the st.ago play, "Sweet Nell of Old Druvy," the film production, ''Nell (Awynne,'' with Dorothy Gish in the title role, comes to Everybody's Theatre on Monday next, and being just what it. is, the authentic and therefore very romantic story of King Charles and hie Nellie, it ranks with some of tho finest contributions to the silver sheet. About the story of theso two there .is an atmosphere imparted to no other illicit love, which it, was, no matter how idyllic and idealistic it wo 3. ' Few there ore .who- raise tho voice of condemnation and the finger of acorn against Nell, for, aoart from the charm of her fascination; which seems to have outlived her and.extended down the ages, her charity and her love for tho poor, and the unfortunate, to which Chelsea Hospital-elands as a living testament, lend to give an aureole to the names of Nell' Gw'ynnc enjoyed by none of Charles's other ladies. At her frailest, Sweet Nellie was a dear, lively, intriguing little creature, whose delicious wit and sparkle captured tho King mid crushed the disgruntled Lr.dv Castlemaine, her chief rival for Roval favour, and in the picture there are some vastly amusing passages between Nell and her Ladyship, which onlytwo women, fighting for the same cause, could effect. It is a lesson, in feminine technique to see the manner in which the erstwhile orange girl disposes of her more commanding rival. There is more than comedy find .romance about the story. A deep'pathos enters.-into tho plot with the death of Charles, whereat the other, ladies of the Court turn their attenttm to finding other means of diversion; Nell-remains true to the ono and only love of her life. It shows her in a better light, and reveals, perhaps, inoro of the woman than even the King saw in life. "Noll' Gwynno is a, picture to charm tho most captious, a story which possesses every essential towards genuino entertainment, and has the added savour of reality. - There is a lino oldworld air about the production, and the dressing is bewildering in its feminino interest. In the title role, Dorothy Gish is bewitching in moments of vivacious comedy, and compelling in more dramatic scenes, in both of which the picture is rich. Aa King Charles, Randal Ayrton is a. dashing, romantic, • yet withal haughty figure, tlio Koval Stuart to his fingertips. They are supported by a cast of exceptionally brilliant players, all of whom, down to the last "super "are true artists. Tho bos plans are now open at The Bristol' Pia'-o Company, where seats may be reserved.