NELLIE STEWART SEASON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 955, 24 October 1910, Page 8

NELLIE STEWART SEASON.

. ♦— "SWEET NELL OF OLD DRURY." "Sweet Nell of Old Drury," a romantic play, by Paul Kester. Cast :— Charles II '. Harcourt Bcatty Lord Jeffreys Gaston Mervale Lord Hochester J'.Stuart 'Clyde Lord Lovelace Gregan M'Hahon Sir Roger Fairfax A. J. Patrick Percival Eardley Tumor Eollins George Thome, Jun. Lacy : James B. Atholwood Captain Graham (Havering • Norman Campbell Lady Castlemaine Madeleine . Meredith Ducheas of Portsmouth...Gwen Burroughs Lady Olivia Vernon ......Eosslyn Vano Tiffin Edith Lewis Nell Gwynne Nellio Stewart

When the multifarious achievements of Miss-Nellie Stewart come to bo recorded in critical array, no role in which this actress has yet appeared will lie found to excel in its representation that of Miss Ellen Gwynne, actress, in Paul, Kester's admirable comedy, "Sweet Nell bf Old Drury." In this play, more than any, the part is so fitted to the admitted talent of tlie : player, that the bharacer of the Drury Lane orange girl who caught the fancy of King Charles, becomes remarkably convincing and life-like, and this fact is emphasised w'hen such a clevorlydrawn character is made the pivot of a well-constructed and ably written play. "Sweet Nell of Old Drury" is not a stranger to Wellington playgoers. 'It comes as an old.friend, and was accorded tho welcome, of one by. a full house on Saturday evening.. Miss Stewart gave one Of the most bewitching performances of her part that the popular actress has ever given in Welington. Though Nell Gwynne may bo classed among tho "pretty parts," it is one which makes considerable demands on' many of the essentials that are part and parcel of a comody actress—broad fun, cutting satire,, vivacity, an aptitude, for mimicIryj, and. moro than a soiipoaV,'of •pathos in file tender scenes—and the presence of these qualities accounted for tho; brilliance of Miss Stewart's exposition. Needless to say, tho support was eminently satisfactory. Mr. Harcourt Beatty resumed his original (in Australasia) role of King Charles, for which part he is so well equipped. Long association with Charles has mellowed. his work, which is marked by a welcome restraint and freedom from the ultratreatrical, Mr, Gaston . Mervale might be excused if he threw slightly more character into his work as Lord Jeffreys, if it be only to lend additional significance to Miss Stewart's mimicry. Otherwise ho was weighty and generally effective. Mr. A. J. Patrick' spoke Roger Fairfax's heroics with proper spirit, and looked a very proper young sprig of nobility. Tho malevdlanco of Lacy, Lord Jeffrey's' spy, was in Mr. J. B. hands, leavened with a comedy touch in intonation here and there, which is a doubtful innovation. A capital sketch of an old-time actor who puts the broadest construction on Hamlet's advice to-the players, was presented by Mr. Eardley Turner as Percival, and as' that basking player's associate Rollins, Mr. George Thorno was quite iiu tune. Hiss made a charming Lady Olivia Vernon, and Miss Madeleine Meredith as Lady Castlemaine, and Miss Gwou Burroughs, as the Duchess of Portsmouth, were well suited, Messrs. Gregan M'Mahou and J. Stewart Clyde werequite adequate in the somewhat colourless parts of Lord Lovelace and Lord Rochester respectively. The play is costumed with rare completeness, which may also be said of the mounting. : A pretty feature of the second act was Miss Stewart's performance on , the spinet, the obsolete forerunner of the modern'. pianoforte. Tlie introduction of the old instrument, which tinkles so sweetly to the deft touch of the actress, greatly enhanced tho scene in which Nell Gwyne soothes tho troubled monarch, on whose head the crown rests uneasily,. Miss Nellie Stewart and Company have arranged a flying tour. through the smaller towns on completion of the present tour in'the south, : playing "Sweet: Nell of Old Drury." As.far as. Wellington district is concerned, the tour will commence at Masterton on Christmas Eve, and the play will bo produced at Palmerston North on Boxing Night.