The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1926-02-04
ELKS' PLAY FEAST IS
WEST" IS ACCLAIMED
HIT OF THE SEASON

East is Vest presented by the
Elks of the city, won genuine applause
from two large audiences who wit
messed the production on Friday af-
ternoon and evening at the Workers
Hall. The performance on Saturday
night was in response to the hearty
encore of Friday night, and was en-
joyed by quite number who had ne
elected to take in the performance
the night previous. Without excep-
ton this was the most highly success
full of the many home talent produc-
lions of the season, due to the eXcep-
tional ability displayed by each mem
Der Of the well-trained cast, which was
complimented by many who have seen
the play elsewhere, OF the original
production in the larger cities.
Those taking prominent parts were
Clair F. Chamberlain, proprietor of
the Love Boat; Robert D. Scott, as
Lo Sang Kee, a Chinese merchant of
San Francisco, slow of speech and ac-
tions and respected by all; Dagmar
Mattson, as Ming Toy, the winsome,
coquettish little Chinese girl, who was
bought by Lo Sang Kee from the Love
Boat, to save her from falling into the
hands of a scounderly Chinaman; and
Ralph Porter, taking the part Of Bill
lie Benson, who fell in love with Ming
Toy.
The love of "Mr. Billie Benson" for
the charming little Ming Toy created
a romantic love story, in which Char
lie Yong, ably played by Mr.. Roy
Reed, entered and here trouble began
for little Ming Toy, who objected to
being taken away from Lo Sang Kee
by the wealthy Chop Suey King, even
tho she was to have the honor of be-
ing his first wife.
Of equal prominence in the cast
were Rev. Frank Durant, as the hea-
then rascally Hap Toy, father of Little
Ming Toy, who first appeared in the
prologue selling his daughter to the
proprietor of the Love Boat, in order
that he might buy a pig; Mrs. Syl
Braida, as Mildred Benson, the sweet
heart Of Jimmy Potter, played by Mr..
Syl Braida, and Mr. and Mrs. S. C.
Merriman, who were Mr.. and Mrs.
Andrew Benson, the aristocratic par
ents of Billie and Mildred Benson.
1t would be difficult to give praise
to any one member of the cast, with
out expressing the same for each of
those taking the most prominent
parts, for the Interpretation of each
part was markedly realistic and pleas
ing. If there was one character more
appealing than the others, it was
little Ming Toy, whose vivacity, and
adroitness in learning the ways Of
American women, were both amusing
and charming.
The happy climax came in the last
act when it developed that Ming Toy
was not the daughter Of the rascally
Hap Toy, but really came of distin-
guished American parentage, which
discovery enabled Mr.. Billie Benson to
marry her, bringing JOY to all those
concerned.
The other members of the cast, who
contributed to the success of the play
were G. R. Northrop, Attendant of the
Love Boat; Matt Mattson, as customer
and later as servant and Lua May; DR.
P. J. Sweeney, as Chang Lee and also
Mr.. Davis; Mrs. Chas. H. Draper as
Mrs. Davis; Mrs. C. F. Chamberlain
as Miss Fontain; and the Sing Song
Girls, Dorothy Davis, Margaret Soud-
ers, Helen Souders, Anna May Mallin
and Esther Durant. Clair F. Cham
berlain also played very creditably the
part of Thomas, the butler in the An
drew Benson home.
The cast was coached by Joseph
Kent, who has successfully directed a
number of plays here this season.
The special features between acts
were violin duet by William Noetzel
and Harry Jewison, with Karl Opper-
man as accompanist; Chinese Fan Tan
Dance by Miss Marjorie Scott, with
Miss Isabelle Mullenger at the piano
and vocal selection by Miss Frances
Ciochetto, with Miss Mullenger as
accompanist.
T F. Hatton was in the CITY Tuesday