The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-26


day, Wednesday.
Miss Petticoats" Friday.
"A Montana Outlaw" a western play
Of new order, comes to the Crawford
today for matinee and night perform
ances. The first act of "A Montana
Outlaw is laid at the ranch of Wesley
lie Grand, and introduces, besides the
Tanchman and his assistants, the hero,
Jack the Buster" Irene LIE Grand the
ranchman's daughter, and Manuel
Barka, through whose efforts the ranch
property is fraudulently taken from LIE
Grand and the ranchman himself made
60 appear the murderer of Jude Stacy,
one of Barka's hirelings. The second
act shows the Rocky Mountain hotel at
Kootenai City, where LIE Grand is in
hiding. In the third act LIE Grand is
captured and taken to Jail, and at night
Barka and his men break into the jail
and attempt to lynch LIE Grand, when
Jack appears on the scene and sewers
the rope with a shot from his rifle. LIE
Grand makes his escape to point
where he can take the stage for Helena.
Barka and his men pursue LIE Grand,
overtake the coach, and the hOldup at
the end of the fourth act is said to be
thrilling in the extreme. In the last act
LIE Grand is reca ptured and tried for his
life, but, through the efforts of Jack the
crime is fastened upon Barka, the real
murderer. The play contains an abund-
ance of comedy, many amusing and
clever specialties being introduced dur
ing the action of the play The cast is
headed by VIM. A. Clarke. His support
Is said to be excellent.
In the Offering, Down by the Sea"
rounds of applause and occasional
Kisses aimed at the villain furnish proof
that the play is up to the standard and
q trif1e above 1t. It is a compact, close
knit English comedy drama and is
stage adaptation of a familiar novel
There is q logical and absorbing plot,
replets with thrilling situations and
action is rapid. Deep-dyed villains at
tempt to separate two devoted hearts,
but all wrongs are of course righted be-
fore the audience is allowed to depart.
The scenic details are very good, par
tioularly the storm scene, which is as
real and palpltat1ng as can be pro-
duced on the stage. At the outset the
story was one of English fisher life, and
after profitable run in the old country
the drama was Americanized to portray
exciting happenings along the New
England coast, and has not lost in the
change of scene. Down by the Sea-
will be at the Crawford Sunday night.
The Kansas City Journal said of Miss
Osternan, who comes to the Crawford
for New Years matinee and night as
follows:
In a new comedy drama of decided
excellence, Miss Kathryn Osterman re-
turns to Kansas City, and it is worthy
of note that she has never been seen
here to better advantage than as Miss
PetticOats' in the play of that name,
which opened for the week al the Grand
yesterday. There is a charm indescrib-
able about Miss Osterman's new offer
ing and the theme is decidedly novel.
Some liberties have been taken with
Dwight Tiltons novel, but the stage
adaptation is brisk, dramatic and at all
times interesting. No dull moments
await one who goes to see Miss Petit
coats Contrary to precedent, the love
motif is submerged and indeed almost
lost sight of in Miss PetticOats,' and
the strength of the drama is due al
most entirely to the unique treatment
of perfectly natural, though somewhat
unusual, desires for revenge on the part
of a factory girl whose parentage is
questioned.
While the drama has some original
strength, one cannot conceive of its
treatment by anyone of lesser genius
than Miss Osterman. AS Miss Petit
coats she dominates all situations and
gives dramatic Virility to the best pas
sa ges in the play. Always an artist of
coNsummate ability in certain we'll de-
fined lines, Miss Osterman brings to
the present production an almost emo
tiOnal treatment and at times is called
upon to be almost dramatic. That she
IS equal to the demands of the part is
certain From the righteousness of a