Kathryn Osterman and Co.

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Grant Carpenter wrote "True to Nature" for Kathryn Osterman. The piece is about a divorcee (Miss Osterman) who has attracted a married man (James Kyrle MacCurdy). He is a gallivanting husband. When the divorcee discovers he is married he pleads that his wife is an invalid. He claims that she forces him to seek the companionship of the opposite sex. To assure herself, she buys gowns with the check for $250 from the "chaser, after which she deposits the receipt into his overcoat pocket. In this way, the wife (Mabel Wright) learns of her husband's latest infatuation. She calls upon the divorcee. The conversation turns to the duties of a wife and the necessity to "hold a husband." The wife is dowdy looking compared to Mrs. Best (the divorcee). They are talking when the husband, Mr. Smith, comes calling. Mrs. Smith, following Mrs. Best's instructions, goes to slip into the new gown. He exclaims, "Can this be my Mary?" or something like, when Mrs. Best breaks in saying, "Listen, the biggest chump in the world is the man who finally finds out he has been buying wine for the wrong girl." The speech makes a bigger hit with the audience than Mr. Smith, for as he leaves with his wife he runs back to remark to Mrs. Best: "You are the loveliest woman in the world, and you little devil, I'll get you yet."
The early portion needs to be edited and the husband introduced earlier. Miss Osterman plays her role nicely and looks extremely well. Her assistants ably assist her, particularly Mr. MacCurdy. The act is a sure fire with its appeal to women everywhere.
Source:
Variety 36:3 (09/18/1914)