The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1901-03-08
Nell Gwynne.

lished herself firmly as a favorite
among the theatre going people of
Honolulu. AS Sapho she was grand.
and as Nell Gwynne she was 30
charming and social it yum
yum"-that no one in the audience
blamed Charlie II. bit. even il he
did not i've strictly up to the adopt
ed rules mot practice) OF the alpha
betical societies of the Advertisers
clique.
We we're pleased, by the way, TO
see one Of the principal owners OF
the virtuous morning paper, which
condemns Sapho, present in the
audience last night. The Hon. W.
r. Castle was there; he didn't leave
his seat, and he didn't even look
very shocked, when dear Nell ap.
peared in abbreviated trousers. (This
is not Sunday ISSUE 30 the Sunday
schools will never know that w. r.
G. actually applauded, naughty"
Nell) The play in itself is without
the slightest iota of dramatic
merits, but Honolulu wants to laugh
with Nell, rather than cry with
Sapho. There is no plot whatever
in the play, but lot Of graceful,
vivacious and charming situations
are presented, in which of course
Nell is the center and Florence
Roberts was the brilliant represen-
tative OF the historical character.
The play is very simple. Nell
Gwynne was naughty girl but
beautiful, witty and clever. She
lived in 1850, and hence the style of
costumes worn by the actors. While
selling oranges at the Drury Lane
theatre she becomes gifted with
great dramatic talent, and che APP
pears upon an imaginary stage back
of the Irwin box, where the "supes"
are loudly applauding her. Lord
Somebody fatters her in the green
room, where she has lots of fun
with other actors, and Captain
Mardyn OF the Queens Own loves
her, while she, with an eye to bust
ness jingles her sovereigns in her
pockets, and only "knows her
heart" when the King says that he
loves her.
Nell then becomes the "boss;" she
helps the old drunken actors who
taught her the business. She gets
a fine job and a rich wife for her
discarded lover; dresses herself as
highwayman to give said discarded
lover, who was an arrant cur, a
chance to show his bravery before
his lady love, and finishes by laugh
ing at everybody even the King,
whose patience (O finally is reward
ed when the curtain drops.
Miss Roberts impersonation Of
Nell was sweet piece of dramatic
art, and she was far better support
ed in this play than in Sapho.
Paul Gerson made fine King
and Lucius Henderson took the
part of Jack Mardyn in a most ao.
ceptable manner.
Miss Juliet Crosby has a fine
stage appearance aud pleased the
audience greatly as Frances Stuart,
the damsel who bestows her hand
and fortune on Nell's former
"only" Jack.
Little Ollie Cooper. the child
player, who also appeared in Sapho
is a very bright child, and is receiv-
ing an excellent training for the
stage.
The House was crowded last
evening. In one Of the proscenium
boxes we're Mdll. Trebelli and party.
and the two opposite boxes were
occupied respectively by Mr.. Gerritt
Wilder and a party, and by Prince
David, in whose box the Misses
Campbell andAttorney Cupha we're.
The stage setting and scenery
were excellent, and the manage.
ment deserves all the success which
the company is nesting with in Ho-
nolulu.