THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2578, 12 August 1909, Page 3

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

MISS NELLIE SfEWART.

AN INTERVIEW

(Bv “First Nighter,” in the “Dominion)

Miss Nellie Stewart, who has for so long endeared herself to colonial playgoers, seems to have become a personal and intimate friend and favorite with all theatregoers. Off-hand, I can name no actress who has so' unassumingly assumed a like position to that Miss Stewart , has, and holds, with the playgoing public. -Asked -to explain why and how would be difficult— it just is. Forced for an explanation, T would eay that Miss Nellie Stewart’s personality dces.it all, but that is very vague and weakly general. But there you are — it is her personality ; one of such perfect charm, allied to a lively intellect and delicate buoyancy, and that form of magnetism which acts as wireless telegraphy on each heart and head on the other side of “that funny little row of lights.” She was born to the stage, if ever a woman was. Everyone, 1 supnose, has his or her limitations; Miss Stewart has not so far been imprudent enough to appear in any character which has disclosed the outer boundary of lier varied talents. From the Bet tin a—what a Bettina ! —in “La Maseotte” to Sweet Nell of Old Drury is a far cry, but what can be said of the actress who can charm to the last degree as Yum Yum in “The Mikado” one night and wring hearts the next as Camille. This is versatility in its highest form, and, to crib from Who Banished Duke, there is “good in everything” Miss Stewart does. Remembering the engaging qualities of her talent as the prima, donna of the Royal Comic Opera Company—not so many years ago either —one can scarcely conceive the quick transitions che has made in taking up comedy and the higher drama, and doing more than simply well in both. She is so happily constituted that it! would be impossible for her to do anything on the stage badly and it takes some thinking just to 'know in what parts the artistry she has “up lier sleeve,” so to speak, would not effect a surprise in the critical mind of the doubter. So we take honor and credit for having lier, and lay it on by labelling her in all affection “Our Nell,” with the same enthusiasm as Australians. There is no doubt about crowd broke up the- barriers and damaged Wildman’s in Auckland in its anxiety to book seats only the other dav.

Miss Stewart feels this, and reciprocates. She tokl a “Dominion” interviewer up the line that she had a great, and abiding love for New Zealand. It was good to come back and find friends — real friends —holding out the glad hand of welcome. It was. so different to being just one little person in the greater world on the other side of the sphere. “I have not had as much time as I would have liked to enioy the lavish hospitality and genial friendship that lias awaited mo. Ever since I came back to Australia there lias been plenty of work to do in getting up our repertoire, but I was born to work. In my father’s time I lived in the atmosphere of the theatre —it was theatre, theatre, theatre all day and night any every day and night owing to the frequent changes of bill that iiad to bo m.itre to keep our audiences together. Even on a Sunday we would be at the theatre or ' working out something for it at home. There was no time for society or afternoon teas or ‘at homes’ and such-like in those days. Heigh-ho! “I don’t suppose 1 could call it so arduous now, but there is still plenty of work. ‘Kitty Bellairs’ is a 'heavy part—and thankless, at that, I call it, for one has to keep going at it hammer and tongs to make it go as it should.” Well, you certainly succeed. “All. that’s very nice of you to say so, and I’m vain enough still to believe you. I can’t help it—the play has gone so well in New Zealand.” But there arc sacrifices to make in leaving the bigger world? “Yes, there are, of course. I am passionately fond of good music, and I miss jt-T-tlie grand opera and the great orchestras that thrill one so delightfully. That has to come yet in Australia and New ‘Zealand. It is part and parcel of the artistic side of life in London. There lam just a Unit among the many—here, well, everybody knows and recognises me, and I. can’t help being a little conscious of it. What tickles, and at times, touches, me is that the children in Australia seems to have the same interest in me as their parents—at least it is so in Sydney and Melbourne. The other evening, in Melbourne, I arrived at the stage-door, and the doorkeeper said there were some boys who wished to speak to : me. There were three Or four of them about ten or eleven years old. ‘Well, what is it, my lads?’ I said. They were all nervous and inclined to be shaky. ‘Don’t shiver,’ I said, ‘but tell me what you want with me.’ ‘l’m not shivering,’ said one, ‘but-—but —.’ ‘Now don’t be frightened, just talk to me as if I were your mother.’ Then they told me that they were the junior, B’s of some football ohib or other, and had a favor to ask. I found out exactly what they wanted, .and sent them a why rejoicing. It was what some might call a funny incident, but it is the sort of thing that touches me somewhere. Foolish, perhaps, but it’s true.” Miss -Stewart spoke highly of the transcendent talent of Oscar Asclie and Lily Bray ton, and sympathised with New Zealand on ' learning tliat they were not coming over. Having played Rosalind, she, in answer to a question, .stated that she would like to have played “Peter Pan” and, the part in the latest Barrio play, “What Every Woman Knows.” ■' She also aspires to “Juliety” and who knows:—but we must not anticipate.

YOU SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL. Who does not desire to be good to look at. And who will not welcome just a few aids to good looks? Fresh air is one of- the best. Sleep in it, even if you can’t live in it all day. ■ Have your windows open at night —wide open. Stand by the open window before you go to bed, and when you get up in the morning draw a ‘'dozen deep breaths, filling and emptying your lungs slowly. Try with all your might to take a certain amount of exercise daily in the open air. This is not. always easy to manage. But set before you the ideal that you are to make- yourself good-looking, and make up your mind that it is worth working for. It will pay to get up a little earlier in the morning if you think it is going to mean the gain of the lovely bloom that only out-door exorcise can give you. If you are so fortunate as to have your work at home, have your windows open m the room where you arc employed, bo through exercises night and morning with the windows open, and find out what suits you - best.