LEG CARRILLO IN 'LOMBARDI, LTD.'

Evening Star, Issue 20388, 21 January 1930, Page 7

LEG CARRILLO IN 'LOMBARDI, LT D.'

After the Wellington opening , performance of ‘Lombardi, Ltd., which is to be staged here by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., at His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday next and four following evenings (and on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, January 28 and February 1), the box plans were rushed on the following morning, and the whole of the huge auditorium was taxed to its limit during the remainder of the season there. Leo Carrillo immediately captured his audience in the leading role, and he repeated the success in Wellington that he achieved in America and Australia. ‘Lombardi, Ltd., was specially written for Mr Carrillo by the popular authors,. Frederick and Fanny Hatton. It is, said that he gives a character impersonation or a calibre never before seen in this part of the world. - “ It is,” wrote, a Sydney critic, “as unique as it is original. Carrillo not only speaks and acts —he really lives tho part of thp laughing, irrepressible, too impressionable Tito Lombardi, tho idol of his charming employees, tho innocent victim, or one who seeks by 1 alluring seductive methods to embroil him in a scandal. _ At the close of the initial production ot * Lombardi, Ltd.,’ in Wellington the enthusiasm of the large and very representative audience knew no bounds. They recalled Mr Carrillo again and again, and they would not leave the theatre until the famous actor finally came before them and. told them how happv he was to be in New. Zealand and how much he valued their appreciation of his own and the efforts of his talented company. It is hard to give playgoers an idea of the attractiveness of ‘ Lombardi, Ltd.,’ but< there is no doubt that it is one of the best, most popular, and most original plays ever staged by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management, and in it Mr Carrillo is a great star. Mr Carrillo brought with him from America two ladies who were associated with him in the New York production of ‘Lombardi, Ltd.’ These are Miss Margaret Cnllon-Landis and Miss Barbara Buddy, both of whom have greatly assisted in making ‘ Lombardi, Ltd.,’ the mbst successful comedy the Australian stage has ever known.. The oast includes a number of artists who are already well and favourably known to New Zealanders, including Miss Rowena Ronald, Miss Natalie Moya, Miss Daphne Baird, Mr Brandon Peters, Mr Cecil Manncring, Mr Leslie Victor, Misses Alma Gibbs, Beatrice Kendrick, Mr J. Vincent White, Miss Marjorie Statham, and Mr George Kensington. The box plan will bo opened on Monday morning.