Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-13
OBSERVATIONS BY
A FIRST NIGHTER

'NNS "Stt1 you uO IL your laSt name
was Hogan, your parents had been ro-
mandc enough to christen you Undine
and you had an ambition for serious work
on the stage?' That is the problem con-
fronting pretty Los Angeles girl who
came here some time ago from Minneap-
| oils.
Miss Hogan is one of Frank HeaIy's
'hnds." To Healy Miss Hogan explained
| that she wanted to become an ingenue.
and the comic opera impresaria, always
gallant where a pretty woman is con-
cerned, consented to give her try out,
The trial was held and at its c.ose Healey
expressed much enthusiasm for Miss Ho-
gan's ability as an actress, but urforl
tunately he discovered that she could act
| much better than she could sing There
fore he decided to pass her along to John
Blackwood
Now Blackwood, of course, already had
an ingenue, but, like Healey, he is always
wiling to give budding genius a chance,
particularly when that genius Is SO charm
ingly domiciled as ir the present instance.
Consequently he promised to give Miss
Hogan a small part in the forthcoming
production of "The Crisis" at the Belasco.
The name, however, proved stumbling
block The young woman herself had
achieved an essentially feminine solution
OF the difficulty She merely changed the
'P' In that first name to ''y'' and let 1t
go at that. But Blackwood wasn't salts
fed. He had read Foque's romance and
he knew that Undine in the beginning OF
her career, had no soul Then he looked
into what the lady novelist would term
the soulful eyes, of Miss Hogan, and he
realized the name must be mienomer.
Blackwood is a man of curious habits.
If you were to give him a problem in.
algebra to solve and offer a prize for Its
solution he would begin operations by
humming softly the first air that came
into his head. Without the prize, of
course, he wouldn't consider the matter
at ALL In this case, however, the possi-
BILE reward was stage success for an
exceedingly pretty girl, and Blackwood
proceeded to emit a series OF curious
sounds which do duty for the Black
woodian harmony. 1t was his way OF
seeking inspiration.
Suddenly he interrupted his vocal ex-
ercises
whats that I'm singing" de de-
manded.
Healy laughed Miss Hogan blushed
and automatically replied that the air
seemed familiar, though she couldn't just
place It,
Huh" said Blackwood. "1t's Mary.
Mary is a grand old name, you know"
And so when Miss Undine Hogan APP
known as Mary Hogan. And, incident
ally, Maud Gilbert will have to look to
her laurels.
The Belascos presentation Of "A Mod
ern Magdalen' last week was an achieve
ment, as you who saw it must have real
ized The drama Is remarkable for the
large rumber of important roles written
into it, and for this reason it is seldom
used in stock There are few stock COM
panies in the country competent to give II
an adequate production. Decidedly, now
ever, the Beasco is among those Few.
Originally produced some f1ve years ago
at the Bijou theater, New York, "A Mod
ern Magdaien" was then presented with
what would now be termed an all-star
cast yet talked with theratergoer the
other night who declared that IN some
respects the Belasco presentation was a
more artistic effort than the Original.
This critic was particularly enthusiastic
over the work of Mr. Yerance,N VINO, ne
declared. was even better in the role than
Wilton Lackaye, who created 1t. Here is
the New York cast, the second name III
each instance being that of the Beiascoite
who essayed the same part IN tne iooa'
revival
Hobart Bosworth, Lewis Stone; Wilton
Lackaye. William Yerance; Ferolnanu ~
Gottschalk. Richard Vivian; Henry z.
Dixey, John Daily Murphy; Joseph Hol-
land, Howard Scott; Amelia Bingnam'
Blanche Stoddard; Madge Carr Cooke, Eli
eanor Carey. M
You will note that Mr.. Bosworth, stage
director of the Belasco company, was
Miss Bingham's leading man at the time
the play was given its premier ~ .he
others Iackey. Dixey. Madge Carr Cooke
and Amelia Bingham are no" stats'
The ulrich stock company, following a
practice first adopted three years ago. VIII
hold a farewell reception on the stage OF
the Grand following the matinee Satur-
day afternoon. These receptions doubt
less are delightful affairs for the audi
ence and are not unpleasant for the ac-
tors unless they are unduly prolonged.
rhe interval OF time between matinee and
niyht performances on Saturday Is not
large and when visitors insist upon stay
ing too late the actors must miss their
dinners. Therefore, If you want to see
Miss Barker. Miss Hayward and the rest
Of them al close range go upon the stage
ana nav your respects but don't take
YOUR bonnets off for nice, cozy chat.
They haven't time. much as they might
enjoy it.
Harry Gazier, one of the best liked
members of the Belasco company, who
has been out OF the cast for the past (
month through illness, is expected to re-
t,,rn 10 rehearsals Tuesday and Will be in
next weeks bill at the Blackwood play
studio. Glazier has had rather a hard
time OF IL, but IL said to be practically
(Continued ON Page Fivel