The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-09-12

4 Bis House EnjOys Entertainment.
 ''The greatest test of love is sacri- fee" Upon that theme is buiided the delightful play of Miss Petticoats," |" which served. last night, at the Hype- Fion theater, to introduce Kathryn Os- terman as a star. The crowded house received Miss Osterman warmly. As
 a comedienne she is we'll known. Last night running the sull gamut of emo- tions. she proved herself to be pos | sessed os unquestionable stellar capa- | biiities. Her comedy work was piquant and sparkling; her emotional work had | the true heart ring of the great ac- tress.
 Kathryn Osterman's debut as star
 last night was not merely success. it
 was 8 personal triumph for a lovable
 little woman as well as an actress born I to her art.
 In the first act, breathing the. odor of salt-air and homely simplicity, Miss 1 Osterman appears as the inpetuous
 girl, just budding into womanhood. | High strung she is and of gentle birth | and her surroundings as a girl work | ing in a mill are so distasteful that she | is forced into petulancy But it is such
 pretty petulancy that the audience lean toward her. And then her merry moods, her irnpetuousness suddenly
 changes. For her grandfather reveals ! the secret of her birth and shows her | her dead mothers picture. Ones heart I wells up with sympathy for the girl
 and moment later the love of the audi
 ence is Miss Osterman's.
 | The pathos of the scene in which she
 tells her mother love is intense. And then her parting from her grandfather! l Miss OsterTnan's little speech of fare we'll to her nlessmates is a gem. It
 breathes of a broken girlish heart and eohos the grandfather's thought that
 ''The mightiest test of love is sacri- | fee"
 In the second act, two years having
 elapsed, Miss Petticoats" has grown
 into a young lady and is surrounded
 by wealth and comfort as the com-
 panion and protege Of a rich old wo-
 man. Her old companions visit her and l the presence of the quaint old seafaring
 men in the stately mansion gave Miss | Osternan last night ample scope for
 her delicious comedy. It is here that She has her first glimpse of real love and is taught the first lesson by the
 young clergyman of the school militant.
 It is here also that the first seed of an undying hate is sown against a youth ful Iibertine, the nephew of her bene- factress. Miss Osternan here gave the audience an Insight of what she is ca Epable of in strong emotional work.
 In the next act Miss Osterman fully reveals her powers as an actress. Her
 swift change from anger at the insults heaped on her by the libertine to in ] tense grief at the sudden news of her
 grandfather's death thrilled the audi ence. It was grand work. It was work which strains the capabilities. But 1 Miss Osterman was fully equal to it.
 The timbre of her voice, her facial ex-
 pressions were those of the born artiste. ! And when, like a lightning flash, came
 the sudden thought for revenge, Miss Os- l terman showed the intensity that few l dreamed of knowing her as comedi- enne. Then came the sudden fall, the i pellt-up emotions being too much for ! the girlish brain, and one of the best
 climaxes in the play had been reached. , 1 From that time on the play changes.
 It leaves the pastoral atmosphere of the New England whaling town for
 Fifth avenue New York. The fourth act is great ballroom ! scene. Here Miss Osterman again shows her powers as an actress by de- picting to the life the characteriZatio of lady of millions and social station for little Miss Petticoats" has become the. Countess of Fornay. One of the greatest hits of the play is seen in this act It is the hornpipe dance of the old sailors in which Miss osterman takes part and shows her charming versa tility. In the final act, the stock ticker scene, Miss Osterman secures her re- venge and then changes from the stately woman of fashion to the typical American girl once more and earns her reward of love. It is a pleasing finale to a play of merit which is stamped a success through the art of Kathryn Os- terman. Miss Osterman is a beautiful woman. She has the freshness of youth and delightful figure. Her eyes, one of her most charming features, are ex- pressive, now flashing, now linloid and again bubbling over with contagious humor. Her voice is an ideal one for great star. It has the purity and sweetness of a girls; the power and depth of an extraordinary woman's. The lights and shades of her charac- terizations last night were perfectly drawn. a.r 7.
 It is safe to prophecy that Kathryn Osterman has successful future be- fore her and an acknowledged place among the popular stars of the Ameri- can stage awaiting her.
 The company supporting Miss Oster- man is excellent. The play is splendid ly staged and the scenic and light ef- fleets are superb.
 All in all Kathryn Osterman's debut to stellar ranks could not have been had under better circumstances.
 Welcome! Kathryn Ostern1an, Star!
 Miss Petticoats" again to-day, af- +arponp apd a1yori.ou