REVIEW
In the romantic days when King Charles II. squandered the money of his subjects in debauchery, gambling, and licentiousness, lived Nell Gwyn - "Sweet Nell of Old Drury." From time immemorial kings have had their love affairs outside the formalities of their Courts farces, comedies, tragedies-but there was both comedy and tragedy in the relations of Charles II. and Nell Gwyn.
Nell Gwyn was born in a slum off Drury Lane, her father being a fruiterer in Covent Garden Market. She had little or no education, and managed to keep things going by selling oranges in the streets around her home, or at times she would enter the King's Theatre and dispose of her wares in the pit. Possessed of a remarkable personality, and exceptionally beautiful, she reigned supreme in the neighbourhood of Old Drury. The young bloods of the town knew her well, and she could hold her own with the best of them, for she had a ready tongue and the gift of repartee.
It was during one of the King's visits, with a party of hot-headed young rakes from his Court, to the old theatre that he first saw Nell Gwyn. Struck by her beauty and natural charm, he talked to her, and she, not knowing who he was, found occasion to utter a few plain truths concerning the King, his Government, his friends, and his life. Her mimicry of Lord Jeffreys, for whom Charles had no deep love or true regard, and her frankness in speech were irresistible to the King, and to her utter consternation he declared his identity and promised her a part in the next play at the theatre.
From the moment she set her foot upon the stage Nell was successful. She was never a great actress, but her natural charm drew all London to her feet. At Court she was the King's favourite, but with very few exceptions the noble ladies who stood as her rivals in the affection of Charles bore her no ill-will. It was of Nell Gwyn that it was said "Her heart is as big as her body."
She was rich, yet she gave lavishly to the poor; no old friend of hers went away empty. She was often imposed upon and she knew it, but none suffered because of that. 0ver Charles Nell Gwyn had a considerable influence, and she was not averse to using this for the benefit of those whom she considered unjustly treated. For Sir Roger Fairfax she had a strong liking, almost a passion, but to give him the joy of winning the lady of his heart, the Lady Olivia Vernon, she stifled her own feelings, and, at the risk of the terrible vengeance of Jeffreys, she defied him in the presence of the King, revealing the plot that would have cost Fairfax his life.
Around her and her actions in this romance is written the play "Sweet Nell of Old Drury." Among many similar episodes of her life there was none that called for more self-sacrifice than this one. She helped the man she loved to win another woman. Nell Gwyn may have had as many faults as virtues, but it is her virtues that have endeared themselves to the English people, and it was surely nothing but her good, true heart that claimed for her the last thoughts of the dying King as he charged those around his bed "not to let poor Nelly starve."
MISS JULIA NEILSON CHATS ABOUT SWEET NELL
A character on the stage in order to reach the affections of the masses must possess some peculiar fascination. With Sweet Nell it is undoubtedly her warmhearted sympathy, and no more tender picture has been seen on the stage than Miss Julia Neilson's delightfully winning impersonation of the erstwhile orange girl.
The other evening, when chatting with Miss Neilson, I asked her to tell me her favourite part. The reply was full of enthusiasm. "Easily answered," she said smilingly. "Of course, it is Sweet Nell. Look at the luck she brought me. It was with this piece that Mr. Fred Terry and I started in management at the Haymarket nearly twelve years ago, and so laid the foundation of whatever success we have since achieved."
Naturally I'm a firm believer in her luck. Why, it was while playing Nell in Belfast that I launched the White Star liner, the Baltic, which shortly after was instrumental in saving 800 lives from the steamship the Republic. "I can't tell you how excited I was when the news reached me. Again, I've always found any difficulty in acting a part considerably accentuated if the character is distasteful to me. With Nell it is quite the opposite, so I love playing her. And people evidently love seeing her, for they come time after time, and one man confessed to no less than thirty-six visits."
Then let me make a confession. I always feel in excellent health when appearing as Nell, which I put down to the amount of exercise I go through. You see the occupation of an orange girl entails a considerable amount of walking, and I calculate, since first appearing in the part, I must have covered quite 10,000 miles."
Then I like the name, for I'm superstitious enough to think it means a lot towards spelling success or failure for a play. Now about 'Sweet Nell of Old Drury' there is a true ring most captivating to the ear. This reminds me of the controversy created by our production of a piece which we called 'Sunday.' "Now I'll have to become Sweet Nell once more, but will you let me send the following message through your valuable columns? Tell them I think it is so sweet to feel that my dear friends, the public, all over the country, have kept Sweet Nell fresh in their memory through so many years. I do appreciate it."
SCENES FROM THE PLAY
