Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-16
OLIVE WYNDHAM IS
BIG HIT AT KEITH'S
Mrs. Vernon Castle in Photoplay
Serial-James B. Carson and
Others Win Favor

standing out like a cameo in a class
Dy ltseh is n picturesque sketch of San
rtanclscos Chinatown the Keith bill
lnis week 1t does not deal with the folles
or the frippery of the Chinese quarter. but
| pictures an episode In the high-class China :
man or mandarin's family life and shows
| 'he queer barrier that still exists in some
cases between men and women in this
class. II is called '"rhe Sweetmeat Game"
Ihe story, which Is by Ruth Comfort
Mitchell is unfolded by Olive wyndham and
an excellent supporting company
hlong- uenE, a Chinese merchant forbids
ms wite, who happens to be the second.
TO take his little blind son out among the
reVelers on New Years Eve lie also eau
tlohS her against opening the windows when
any OF the roysterers pass. for fear they
may touch her. thus making her unfit to
be Nueng's wife. Woo-T.iu Mai the faith
iuI wife. promises to obey her imperious
husbands every wish But when he de-
the street
Crashing gongs intermlngle with the
weird melodies of the Chinese flute.
San-Chi, the little blind son, urges his
lnother to open the window that he may
hear He begs her so earnestly that she
consents Some distance down the street n
procession OF revelers approaches, the vari-
Gus lights which they carry flashing at times
through the window. The band boy Is
thrilled as he hears the sound. woo-Liu
Mai adds to his delight by giving him a
vivid description of the picturesque Cele.
bration. AS the procession passes the
house, one Of the celebrants shoves his arm
IN the window and tries to embrace the
woman. At that moment the husband.
Yiong-Nueng, appears at the door and be-
lieves that Woo is unfeithful lie decides
that she must die for daring to disobcy
him. He leaves the house temporarily
after ordering her to take poison and kill
herself
During his brief absence the wife col
lapses. while San-Chi in playing around the
room. takes from the table the poison which
he swallows in mistake for sweetmeats and
dies.
II had been the custom OF the mother to
play the sweetmeat game with the boy dur
ing the fathers absence from home. This
consisted Of hiding some favorite sweet.
meat which the yourgster found after CROP
ing around the room. Yueng accidentally
learns that his wife was not untrue and
is overioyed to find that she Is still alive
The death of the blind son Is regarded as
a blessing.
Miss Wyndham as the wife and Albert
Ferry as the Chinese merchant present
most convincing character studies. Not
only their acting, but the entire production
breathed dramatic authority AS the blind
son, Fred Goodrow did very we'll with diff
ficult role. The production was staged by
Lawrence Marston and is under the drec-
tion Of May Tuly The sketch held the
audience from start to finish and was
greeted with emphatic approval
Another novel feature is the patriotic
photoplay serial "Patria," featuring Mrs.
Vernon Castle. 1t is based on international
complications with America opposed to
Japan and Mexico. The picture is far above
the average for scenic effect and photog-
raphy.
Among other good acts on the bill were
James b. Carson, in The tabloid ",rhe Models
Abroad; Belle Baker who was. inciden-
tally, the applause hit of the show; Mont
gomery and Perry in what might be called
lots of fuss about nothing; Hunting and
Francis, in a comedy stt; Miller and
Mack. daring dancers, and Arthur Sullivan
and company, in a very good sketch fun of
common sense comedy j. G.. c.