The San Francisco call., 1908-08-09

y DEE ore should Wrlfe 2 play -oE
AIRS Thomas Whi1en. a play
something Ike The Rejuvene-
~ uon of Aunt Mary. 1or in
stance. but without buroonery-
e play. In snort. which woEld exploit
q rare. sweet personality simply, d.
rectly and dal1rily- I suggest this for
several reasons Ms NEI1en sup
Piled ne with the best reason She IS
ambitious. and she is tired O- playing
J My e small part when her talents
could grip bigger things -, as every
body IN the world except myself has
either written q play or Is writing one
O. viii write one. the hint IS thrown
cut The medium OF Interpretation : at
hand snc-WL2r z delicious comedy
could be made with Mrs. Whifen in
Ehe title role.
said she IS ambitious. For -
years she said I've been a. t- and
one cannot stop. you know ! was
born in London i 1ss5 and was Just
IS when I went On the stage
She has seen generations OF stage
people pass along. she has played with
sctors -ow dead whose sons are be
coming ma-ured IN the business she
appeared with Steele MEcksye a. the
Madison Square rhesrer IN the original
production q Hazel Eirke" That was
81 1873. she thinks. and z famous old
r-owF they were Now she IS appear
ing IN & company which IS playing q
comedy, Mater" which the son o1 the
suchor o. Hazel Klrke- has written
50 the world flies along" she says
once 7 was Buttercup II 'Pinefore-
Indeed 7 an the original Buttercup o.
the original New York production
And there she sat talking q the old
SsFs and making ne feel the 1utllity
5tself 20 the examination Of such 1ne
Art as this lady possesses
But In tired o. doing bits she
said -1Of course. I'm ambitious When
you're young they say % you. You
need experience Later you VIII be an
artist Now you are too young Then
ne actresses obligfngly grow old and
they say An. tine was when she was
delicious but her youth IS gone and
her sprlngtime has passed Always
there's something the matter you see
but we keep On playing Just the same,
ard looking forward 10 The time when
we VIII have & larger role and more
adequate opportunities
Just why san Francisco has been 50
kind 10 ne In sure / Go not know,
but every tine 7 appear here every
one IS so friendly Perhaps that IS why
keep ny illusions and my ambitions
4 want 10 Justify the confidence OF NY
friends and I want 20 sustain what
reputatson I have already gained
Just think. I was here for the hrst
tine - years ago"
That was before I had learned 70
speak English
IT was il 1874. and ny stage name
fhe- was my maiden name. Blanche
Cation Even then san Francisco was
lovely 70 ne The piece was Charles
ONsIIey.' an adaptation OF Levers
novel. and James Eer1e was the star
OF The stock company We played al
the Bush street thearer- Mcguire was
the manager of the playhouse. Dear
ne no It's TOO long ago FOR me 70
recall The names OF my associates.
However. I remember one, George Glib
he1s he IS now IN London Those ex-
rerfences are ike the telegraph poles
which you see from vour car window.
They are observed and then forgotten
Tou keep on going. and Efe's train Is
q very fast express Do the work q
sne present the best you can Do not
rorrv over Il when IL Is done Give
the present the best there Is in you
s-d then leave Il 70 slip into the past
without regrets and without uneasi-
ness
-But I can tell you some OF those
who participated IN the Madison
sousre production of Hazel Kirke-' Oh
course the author. Steele. MaeKaye
vas there Charles Couldock was an
other Enc Ellsier was the Original
Hazel and Dominick Murray. who wa
\ very well known actor then and {
re-v Hne one. TOO. was also al asso-
oie-e of mine NY husband was come
sfsn of the company He died Il years
ago. Il was with that company thai
H-st used my married name on ths
stage. Dr. Mallory. who was q clergy
nan. rou may know. was induced Q.
AEzcEave 70 finance the venture Hs
suEEesred that as I was appearing II
the same play with my husband thai
u would Be well for me 70 use his
name. Or course. II consented and sr
such little fame as I had gained a
Blanche Cation was buried
or course. you are more or less "a
mliEar with the personnel OF th'
Lyoeur company. which Dan FrohmaE
orzsrfzed ] was & member OF tha'
for - years. al OF which tine. save fol
sumner trips west. was spent il New
York Then I was with Charles Eroh-
mans Empire stock company for fOul
years Associated with ne IN tn
Lvceun were Henry Miller. Herberi
Eeice~. Lenorne. Charles Nslcot
ceorzte Csvran and Efie shannon II
CrzrIe< Frohman's company wers
Fzwershzu. Robert Edeson- Nay Rob
scn. Viola Allen and Miss Angiin.
NY drst visit 10 the coast viii