The daily times., 1921-11-15
LEO CARRILLO, A GREAT ACTOR,
IN HIS FIRST APPEARANCE IN
WILSON SCORES GREAT SUCCESS.
(By F. ID. Swindell.)

A tremendous audience at the w IL
Ason Theatre last night greeted the
Grst appearance in this town OF Mr.
Leo. Carrillo. the famous and popu-
lar Broadway actor. and registered in
no uncertain way it's emphatic ap-
proval of him and the play in which
he acted.
/ Sometimes it has been intimated
that the Wilson conception of things
theatrical is not one to be proud Of:
that the rank and file of play fans
here still lean to the lurid melodrama
and the fragrant and coarse appeal of
cheap vaudeville. And that therefore
a play of genuine merit with an in
tellectual appeal fails to catch the
enthusiasm and sincere appreciation
of the folks. This, Of course, is un-
true. The fact is that the patronage
given the cheaper plays by certain ele-
ments of the population might lead
stranger to class us wrong. AS mat
ter Of fact Wilson is a play loving
town and when the curtain rises, on
whatever kind of show, the seats are
rather we'll filled. Of course, the per-
sonnel of the audience varies with
the kind of show. Last night the au
dience was largely composed of per-
sons whose taste was discriminating,
persons of travel and cultivation.
And it was such an audience that
almost with the rise of the curtain
recognized good play and a great
actor behind the footlights.
The conflict of opinion is still wag-
Victorian drama. Those who think
evil should be portrayed as evil and
nothing else, black and hellish, un-
ameloriated with any touch of good
and that virtue should stand out
resplendent and untarnished. These
people decry any natural blend of
the two and are offended at the mod
ern dramatist, who with an eye on
nature, uses the material of every day
life and holds the mirror up to ma
ture. On the other hand the modern
est appreciates the portrayal of life
and it's mixed elements, freed of the
disguise Of sloppy 'sentimentalism and
rank idealism.
Lombardi Ltd. is play dealing
with certain phase of life common
to New York and other large Ameri-
can cities. The playwrights Frederick
and Fanny Hatton, knew their
and skillfully and with splen-
did technique, created play that de-
serves to endure.
Oliver Morosco, in his presentation
of the play has apparently rivalled
BelascO in his attention to details.
The miscen scene leaves nothing to be
desired. The stage setting, costumes,
accessories ETC., We're chosen with ar
tistic taste, blending in harmonious
whole. The costumes perhaps deserves
particular mention for their elegance
and beauty. But perhaps the greatest
touch of genius in the management
was the wise selection OF the cast
but more of this anon
Tito Lombardi is a creator of sar-
tOrial creations for women, with an
exclusive establishment in New York
The rise of the curtain reveals this
establishment in all it's elegance
Lombardi is surrounded by his name
quins. assistants, and the. full force
of his modiste encourage in action.
Later arrive the customers, some rich
and STAT and ugly, some young and
beautiful and poor. Some pay custo-
mers, some grafters. AS the plot pro-
crosses we see his friends and his
false friends. We meet him in pros
perity and then follow the action and
reaction of fair and foul circum-
stance upon him. We see him finan-
cially ruined and we see him on the
verge of heart break, to be rescued
at the end by the love and loyalty of
his friends. Everything centers about
the personality of this artistic son of
sunny Italy-a personality that capti-
Yates the intellectual and emotional
fancy of us all. The artist, the gem
lus, who places his art above his in
come, who holds his ideals sacred and
keeps his soul clean.
There is sketched briefly but vivid
ly the characters of the little name
quins, their philosophy of life, most
ly weak little philosophy that normal
ly esd in tragedy, but which, in this
play are worked out to better ends.
The characters of the assistants;
Nora. the beautiful faced and rich
natural assistant; James Hodgkins,