Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-27

been seeing of late, the glowing Oriental
dramatic. offering stands out like gor-
geous exotic flower in a clover field. 1t
is beautifully staged, the cast Is excel
lent, the plot sufficiently interesting,
and Ming Toy irresistible.
The prolog, showing the love loaf on
the Yang-Tse River, where the sing
song" girls are sold on the highest lid,
puts the audience in the proper frame OF
minds. The sobbing Chinese music, the
gaily robed Orientals, who look on the
young frightened girls as of less value
than their pigs, ali give the proper
touches to an offering that moves the
audience from laughter to tears.
The plot is built around the beautiful
little Ming Toy, who, as the daughter Of
a Chinese father of some sixteen daugh-
ters, is about to be sold to a leering
Chinese buyer when young Billie Ben
son, wealthy young American with his
friend, Lo Sang Kee, most honorable OF
Chinese merchants of San Francisco, who
are visiting China, happen along. The
merchant, tnstigated by the horrlhed
American, buys the trembling Ming Toy.
and takes her to San Francisco, treating
her as his daughter
The lovely child, however, gets the
merchant into trouble by sitting at the
window and innocently "vamping' the
men as they pass. The mission sends
word to the merchant that he can not
keep Chinese girl there and keep his
good reputation and that he musr
send her away. - marchant, who Is
the soul of homo promises to do So
Charlie Yang, the beau Brummel OF
Chinatown, begs for the maiden, prom
tsing to be good to her, and the credu-
lous merchant, believing him, pledges his
word that Charlie may have her Charlie
already has three faded flowers In his
household and is looking for a fresh
blossom. Then the real story begins.
The young American, Billie. who comes
home from China at the crucial moment
and the friend who works in the mission
amosg the Chinese, rescue the girl again
and install her In the Benson household
as maid to Billes sister. Yang swears
vengeance on the merchant for being
tricked into losing his girl" and traces
her to the house, ready for murder, with
two or three Chinese confederates. Billie
is on hand, however. and with a thrilling
rush, brilliant finale settles everything
In most satisfactory fashion
Fay Banter is all that can be desired
as Ming Toy. with her ready tongue and
spicy humor. The slip Of a girl fairly
her fingers and she has changed from
tragedy actress to a scintillating flash
Of mirth, She says a million and one
clever things, when she is going to Amer
lea she bubbles "Glad to see statue Of
liberty hoEling big 'punl' stick"
Ralph Cooke as the sleek Americanized
version Of the Chinese chop suey joint
proprietor. Charlie Yang who Ming ley
says Is "hfty City" Chinese American,
wins loud applause with his effective
characterization of the egotistical cock
sure "Chink." Robert Harrison as 10
Sang Kee. the dignlfed philosophical
merchant Is splendid. and Frederick
Howard makes a 1ovable real man
Of she role OF Billy Benson. Ronald
Coleman as James Potter, Maria Namara
as Mildred Benson and Leonora Won
Ottineer and George Fitzgerald as Mr..
and Mrs. Benson acquit themselves
admirably aud Harry Maitland as Thorn
as, the butler comes In for his share Of
approval
The performance OF last night was
sponsored by the local League of Women
Voters and the lobby was lighted with
varicolorcd lanterns, with tea tables
presided over by Chinese ROBBED women
who served the patrons with real Chinese
tea between acts.
East Is West" will continue at the
Murat through Saturday evening. with
matinee Saturday.
II ii
on VIEW TODAY.
Other attpctions on view today in
clude: ION Fifth Avenue" at 3. r.
Keith's; Mile. Rhea and company, az
the Lyric; Jazz Babies" at the Park;
Peacock Alleys" at Loew's State; THE
Lane That Hath No Turning. at the
Ohio; THE Three Musketeers," al Mis-
ter Smiths; THE Sin Of Martha Queed"
at the Isis THE Last Payment" at the
Alhambra; Tangled Trails" at the Re
gent: "R. S. Z. p" at the Circle, and
THE Blot" at the Colonial.