NELLIE STEWART SEASON

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 593, 23 August 1909, Page 3

NELLIE STEWART SEASON

"SWEET NELL." Miss Nellie Stewart in "Sweet Nell of Old Drury"! There are few bills in the realm of romantic comedy, few such happy combinations of actress and play more, acceptable to the playgoing public of this part of-tho .world. "Sweet Nell" was the medium by which Miss Nellio, Stewart, already nn operatic star of great popularity and talent, leapt into fame as a comedy actress. Fortunate indeed was Miss Stewart in. securing so suitablo a vehicle for the display of her* bewitching ■ gifts. One might have been led_ to remark that "Sweet Nell" had been written for Miss" Stewart, that Paul Kcster must have had her person and personality in his eye, were one not aware that this was not the case. What is cleat is that "Sweet Nell" is not a. putty part that could be squeezed to suit any actress of talent. Miss Ada Behan ; the great American actress, failed conspicuously in "Sweet Nell of Old Drury," though an established star; yet. the play fan six weeks in San Francisco—in which city plays" seldom run for more than a week—with Miss Stewart —"an unknown actress from Australia"— in the part, and as tho result of her captivation of tne city within tho Golden Gate a big management hustled along to book hex through the States. Her success in Australasia in the role of the orange girl of Old. Drury, the accomplished actress of Drury Lane Theatre, and the King's favourite is so surely established that it hardly needs further ratification here. Yet it is pleasant to dwell upon the divers charms that the actress exerts'in this pretty play of Old-World times. Save for a touch - of thn Irish left over from f "Sweet Kitty Bellairs," there was no deviation by '. Miss Stewart from the spirit of the character, and the charm she put upon her audiences in tho role seven years ago' is as potent as ever today- ' ■ • '. . ' Mr. Charles' King made a handsome and highly picbivresque figure as Charles 11, "whose brows Sore the knot of perplexity over a hard stare," and played the part-with a likeable naturalness ' and grace. ' Mr. Fred / Moyes •played Lord Jeffreys, on . loud, boisterous lilies, and missed a good deal of the devilish subtlety of the character in playing overy scene so broadly. Still, it was a forceful arid impressive -old villain that Mr. Moyes drew. As Sir Roger Fairfax,.■Mγ. A. J. Patrick cut a bold figure,' and his plain outspokenness and earnest lovemaking stood out in proper relief against the arts, and artifices of King Charles's gay court. Mr. Templar Powell made Lord Rochester a very pretty follow of. the period, and" Mr. Comvay Wingfield, as Lord Lovelace, reflected the airy flippancy of the court with consummate grace and polish. Mr. Alfred Tapping gave a .quiet ,but effective character-sketch as the actor Percival, .who has.a quotation to. meet eyory. situation in life. His friend Rollins was well played by Mr. Colin Campbell. A particularly strong character is that qf Lacy (Lord Jeffreys's spy and agent), as drawn by Mr. Harry Ashford. The femajo characters, other than that of '.Mistress (livynne, are not strongly drawn by the author.'; Miss Rosslyn Vayne was quite in 'the picture of Lady Olivia Vernon. Other parts were: Lady Uastlemaino (Miss Madeline Meredith), tho Duchess of Portsmouth (Miss Marjorie Chard), and Tiffin' (Miss , Harriet Trench). ■'.....'' ' The play is superbly mounted. . Tho' first scene—Drury Lane —a. narroWj old-world thoroughfare, with overhanging windows projecting from;hoary stone buildings, and the crowd' of .laced and : scented gallants and patched and powdered . ladies venturing, to the theatre—at once creates; an ancient atmosphere redolent of ancient' London. An.othor'charming white and gold set is tho boudoir of Mistress Gwynrie, in Pall Mall, with its dainty' King Charles furnishings, and quaint spinnet, that is niadetptinkle so sweetly by Miss' Stewart. The other .two scenes—a room in Lord Jeffreys's house,' and a chamber at Whitehall,''wore also very fine stngo elaborations. The. dresses (of -the cavalier period) are very beautiful, lending a singular charm to. every scene. Tho play is provided with 'an. enhancing' -musical score, capably interpreted by .'an orchestra ur.der tho directorship rof i Mr. Fred Quintrell. ■•■■'• ....... .;..■.. "Sweet Nell" can only,;bejplayed for another three nights, as Shakespeare's pastoral' •idyll.. "As You Like It," is to be staged oii Thursday evening.- .■■■' '■'.'■