The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-09-27
Marie DOrO
 Scores Hit
 In New Play
(Review)

A they toll not, neither do they spin"
 Lilies of the Field" Somehow or other lilies. white lilies, have always seemed to make persons think Of of death itself. But not so with Will
 opened at the Park theatre last night, with Marie Doro, and with
 company that left little to be desired. From the first few lines given to
 Josephine Drake as "Maisie Lee," to Miss Doro's first appearance. the
 many minutes. and until after several final curtains on the last act, the audience laughed, and then cried,
 and then laughed some more. And all the time the gathering of first nighters and persons prominent in
 the theatrical world approved, even tough shocked. just a little. oc- casionally.
 The play is success, as was at tested by six curtain calls at the conclusion of the first act William Hur1burt has constructed a vehicle
 for Miss Doro that gives her ample opportunity for emotional acting, surrounding her with a company of | capable women with comedy parts
 of new line. The idea is strictly
 modern, true to life it is said (not | being afflicted with wealth or not being a beautiful woman it is hard | to swear to it), and William Hurl- DuII mas earned the QlSI1nCIlOn O1 ! writing a risque play that is not of | fenSive, and furthermore all the
 scenes are laid in reception rooms
 or libraries of apartment houses without even a single day bed being on the property list.
 The Garrick Productions company | has been lavish in the settings and | dressing of the play. This is the first
 will leave a lasting effect upon Bridgeport theatregoers. With a single exception it is the first time
 Miss Doro has appeared @on the legi- Frohman banner, but she scored single success for the new company last evening. Karl Freund is re- sponsEble for the stage settings and his own directing and the Hugo
 Gerber studios did the scenery. Miss
 Doro wore gowns by Callot. Lanvin,
 Poiret, Molyneux; hats by Alex. | for the other ladies of the company. While the play has to do largely with subject that would strike any
 but the married or strictly sophisti- l cated in a rather disconcerting man
 ner, the handling of the snappy
 lines and speeches does .much to
 help over te rough spots. The parts
 of various mistresses past, present
 Josephine Drake, Alison Shipworth, | Pauline Garon and Coro Wither-
 spoon. Mary Phillips and Evelyn
 Duncan were given roles that were | diverting and which would lead an | audience to believe that there were | still a. few women, besides maids and | manicurists who still live according Ito Hoy1e.
 | Norman Trevor was convincing.
 He was so good that the other men, | all of whose parts with the exception | of Roy Walhng were slight that the performers seemed alm ost cheap by | comparison. Roy Mailing as Walter | Harker didn't seem real. His scene | with Pauline Garon, the flapper, | ing bone. He set upon hem of | her skirt in manner that looked | foolish, if intended to be funny. and | entirely too unnecessarily lustful Ii on his feet aud been a. little rougher 1 the same idea might have been con- | veyed, but this is only another per | sons idea of an idea.
 | Opening next Monday night at the Klaw theatre. Marie Doro will score
 a triumph with .'Lilies of the Field" !" | It is a New York play strictly. The scenes are New York, and the char | acters are New Yorkish- There are
 no dull moments. the lines are Witty, the cast mostly good, and Miss Doro
 is beautiful. and effective, and caused
 many a tear to be shed pnoer the | protection of the darkened house lights" She is an artist. That tells ! it all.
 others in the cast WnO HidhS lnS
 most of small parts are Gertrude Clemens. Alice Cavanaughs Dorothy Day, Y- Y. Nimura, J. Cleneay | Mathews, Dan Day and Edith Bryne,
 an adorable little girl who appears but a few moments before the f1nal curtain and shares with Miss Doro
 the honors of a wonderfully acted
 final scene.
 Among the "celebrities' said to be
 present at the opening presentation
 were Herbert Brennon, moving pc
 ture director of Nazimova ana other
 stars; Marc K1aw of the producing | firm of Klaw & Erlanger; Lester
 L-onergan. who answered an 5. C. > | call and rearranged BIueplrd' Eighth Wife" after the New Haven , police ad said Naughty, naughty | Cnauncey McKeever New 9orA banker; David Belasco, best knowr producer in the world; Col jacoE
 Rupert of the New York American league baseball club and Hugo Ger
 Der. scenic expert Many consratu-