ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12266, 9 May 1903, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Thske was a large audience at His Majesty's Theatre last night to witness the Anderson Dramatic Company's second production of "Two Little Drvimmei Boys." The wellacted and beautifully-mounted piece was received with frequent expressions of approval,' its impressive situations and its lighter comedy scenes alike being greatly appreciated. The play will be repeated at a matinee this afternoon, and will hold the boards again to-night and on Monday night. On Tuesday the company open at the Opera House for a, short season in "Night Birds of London." .

MISS NELLIE STEWART AND -SWEET NELL." Extra rows of orchestra stalls will be opened this morning for the first night of the above performance. The demand for seats still continues brisk for the first few nights of the season. Miss Nellie Stewart and Mr. George Musgrove's new English Comedy Company will arrive via the West Coast per Ngapuhi on Tuesday morning. The story is simple, yet exciting and full of interest throughout. The play opens before the King's Theatre, Drury Lane, where Nell Gwynne, barefooted and in rags, is seen selling oranges. Nell is more than grateful to an outlawed noble, Sir Roger Fairfax, who rescued her father from a debtor's prison and herself from starvation, and when Sir Roger returns from the banishment into which he has been sent owing to the personal spite and animosity of Lord Jeffreys, and secretly revisits England to meet his bride, who is to bo Lady Olivia Vernon, ho com- ! mends the high-born damsel to the orange girl at the tryst, which has been arranged outside the theatre. Charles 11. delighted in a bewitching kind of pleasure called sauntering, and while on one of these expeditions he meets Nell Gwynne selling oranges. She is taken on at the theatre and becomes the King's favourite. The next act is laid in a sumptuous room at Nell Gwynne's house, Pall Mall. Mere, after an exciting scsne, in which tho mcrrie monarch figures, Sir Roger Fairfax is arrested through the instrumentality of Lord Jeffrey.?. This infamous chief justice poisons the King's ear with the lie that Fairfax is Nell Gwynne's lover, and then the celebrated actress, having incurred the displeasure of Charles 11., has to fight Lord Jeffreys' and tho King's jealous mistresses to win the day for Fairfax, but she triumphs. In a draw-ing-room in Lord Jeffreys' house, after a mock trial, the prisoner "is convicted. The Lady Olivia, who is Lord Jeffreys' ward, is detained in the house. The examination concluded, the chief justice divests himself of his robes and in a villainously triumphant mood departs. Nell Gwynne returns, and after a moment's thought dons the long curled wig and flowing red robes, seats herself in the chief justice's chair, enacts Lord Jeffreys to perfection, and sends Lady Olivia to interview the Queen. When the infamous judge returns and discovers how he has been checkmated he nearly explodes. The play ends-in an ante-room at the Palace, Whitehall. The King has, with reluctance, signed the warrant for the execution of Fairfax, but the Lady Olivia and Nell Gwynne arrive in time to prove conclusively the innocence of the young nobleman, who has been brought into the King's presence, and the infamy of Judge Jeffreys, who is dismissed from Court. The curtain rings down with Sweet Nell descending the quaint old staircase singing her song to the King. The box offices close at one p.m. to-day. The public are reminded that day tickets may be obtained at Partridge's and the Toreador Floral Depot from Monday next. " IL TROVATORE." In our advertising columns Madame Tree announces that in view of the pronounced success of the above opera, as presented last Monday evening, and the many congratulatory letters received asking that it be repeated, it has been decided 19 reproduce the opera at an early date, CONCERT AT DEVONPORT. A large audience assembled at the Foresters' Hall, Devonporr, last evening to hoar a concert given in aid of the funds of the North Shore District Football Club. A diversified programme was presented, and met with much approval. instrumental items were contributed by Mis.-, 1.. Barker (guitarra) and Messrs. F. Carter (harpist). J. Lawrence (banjo), and song's by Madame j Casicr and Miss Spiulcv and Messrs. V. Atkinson and A. Ford. Mr. A. M. Orpwood's comic songs wore very amusing, and an enjoyable item was an instrumental quartette by Misses Barker (guitarra). Cunningham (mandolin), and Messrs. .7. Lawrence (guitar! and E. L. Sturmfels (banjo). Mr. Cummer gave some selections by the medium of thy gramophone. Mrs. J. Lawrence played the incidental accompaniments.