ORANGES! RIPE ORANGES!

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18900, 15 January 1927, Page 8

ORANGES! RIPE ORANGES!

"NELL GWYNNE," EVERYBODY'S THEATRE, MONDAY. "Oranges! Ripe Oranges!" cries pretty Nell at the door of Drury Lane, and many a theatregoer pauses to purchase her wares, listen to her witty chatter, and gazo upon her peerless bounty. Hi 3 Sovereign Majesty King Charles the Second, passing with his courtiers, hears the- cry, and beholds the beauty, which neither rags nor tattors can conceal. And therewith began a romance, which stands among the great love stories of tho' world. Based on the stage play, "Sweet Nell of Old Drury," the film production, "Nell Gwynne,' with Dorothy Cish in the title ro.c, comes to Everybody's Theatre on Monday next, and being just what it is, tho authentic and therefore very romantic story of King Charles and his Nellie, it ranks with some of the finest contributions to the silver sheet. About tho story of theso two there is an atmosphere imparted to no other illicit love, which it was, no matter how idyllic and idealistic it was. Few there are who raise tho voice of condemnation and the finger of scorn against Nell, for, apart from the-charra of her foßeination, which seems to have outlived her and extended down the ages, her charity and her love for the poor and the unfortunate, to which Chelsea H&spital stands as a living testament, . tend tb give an aureole to tho names of Nell Gwynne enjoyed by none of Charles's other ladies. At her frailest, Sweet Nellie was a dear, lively, intriguing little creature, whoso delicious wit and sparkle captured the King and crushed the cisTuntled Lady Costlemainc, her chief rival for Royal favour, and in the picture there are some vastly amusing passages between Nell and her Ladyship, which only two women, fighting for the same cause, could effect. It is a lesson in *?™ imml tochniquo to see the manner in which the erstwhile orange girl disposes of her more commanding rival. There is more than comedy and romance about the story. A deep pathos enters into tho plot with the death.of Charles, whereat the other ladies of tho Court turn their attentnn to finding other means of diversion; Nell remains true to the one and only love. of her life. It shows her in a better light, and reveals, perhaps, more of the woman than even, the King saw in life. "Nell Gwynne" is a picture to charm the most captious, a story which possesses every essential towards genuine entertainment, and has the added savour of reality. There is a fine oldworld air about the production, and the dressing is bewildering in its feminino interest. In the title role, Dorothy Gish is bowitching' in moments of vivacious comedy, and compelling in more dramatic scones, in both of which the picture is rich. As King Charles, Randal Ayrton is a dashing, romantic, jet withal haughty figure, the Royal Stuart to his fingertips. They are supported by a cast of exceptionally brilliant plavers, all of whom, down to tho last "roper," are true artists. Everybody's "Select" Orchestra, under the direction of Mr W. J. Bellinghnm, F.S.M., will lie heard in specially selected orchestral numbers, ineluding the -following compositions:—Overture, "Der Freischutz" (Weber): dance suite, "Nell Gwynne" (German); "Valse Picruante" (Peel); 'fantasia, "Midsummer Night's Dream" (Mendelssohn); minuet, "Altflarm'scnes" (Friedcnthal); suites, "Divertissement" (Lalo); entr'acte, "Love's Old Sweet Song" 'Mclloy): solecti'-n, "Student Princei' (Friml).' Patrons are urged to bcok their seats at The Bristol Piano Company, where the box plans are now on view.