Kathryn Osterman and Co. (2).

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“True to Nature” 20 Mins.; Five Grant Carpenter has written a comedy playlet for Kathryn Osterman that carries more comedy at the finish than at the commencement. Its title, “True to Nature,” was once employed by Tom Mann. The Carpenter piece is about a divorcee who has attracted a married man to her side. He is a galivanting husband, and when discovered by his latest flame to be married, pleads his wife is an invalid, who forces him to seek congenial companionship of the opposite sex. To assure herself of this, the divorcee, receiving a check for $250, from the “chaser,” buys gowns with it, depositing the receipted bill into his overcoat pocket at his next call. In this way the wife learns of her husband’s latest infatuation, and calls upon the divorcee. A preamble ensures upon the duties of a wife, and the necessities to “hold a husband.” The wife is a dowdy looking creature, in contrast to Mrs. Best (Miss Osterman), the divorcee, elegantly gowned in evening costume. They talk and talk with smart repartee on the wife’s side calling for a repression of injured pride by Mrs. Best, Mr. Smith, the husband, is calling. Mrs. Smith had better slip into the new gown, and follow Mrs. Best’s instructions, which she does, to the consternation of Mr. Smith. 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 seems to make a bigger hit with the audience than with Mr. Smith, for as he leaves the room with his wife, Smith runs back a minute to remark to Mrs. Best, “You are the loveliest woman in the world, and you little devil, I’ll get you yet.” The action starts with the entrance of Mr. Smith (James Kyrle MacCurdy). Mabel Wright plays the wife. The early portion should be edited by a non-interested party, and the husband introduced before ten minutes have elapsed as at present. Miss Osterman carries her role nicely, looks extremely well, and her assistance ably assist her, particularly Mr. Macurdy. The principal and the playing should carry the piece along nicely for one over the circuit. The sure fire of it is its appeal to women everywhere.

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