Molly Pearson

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Molly Pearson (1876 - January 29, 1959) was a Scottish stage actress of the early twentieth century. She was born in Edinburgh.

Contents

[edit] Theatrical career

Pearson was an actress who performed in numerous countries, including England, the United States, (particularly Broadway), Australia, and Africa. She came to America with the Olga Nethersole Company.

A January 1908 production of Carmen presented by Nethersole featured Pearson playing Dolores. The English troupe was joined by American actor Frank Mills when it played the Majestic Theater in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

She was in the supporting cast of The Passing of the Third Floor Back (1909), a play which starred John Forbes-Robertson. The play was written by Jerome K. Jerome. The Robertson company, of London, England origin, presented the theatrical entertainment at the Maxine Elliott Theatre.

In October 1911 Pearson appeared at Collier's Comedy Theatre as the leading lady in the Scottish play, Bunty Pulls The Strings. Written by Graham Moffat of London, Pearson read for the role of Bunty in Moffat's presence at the Haymarket Theatre. This was prior to being engaged to portray the character in New York City.

In the remote Scottish village where the play has its setting (fiction), a typical woman wore a hoop skirt. The attire was both fashionable and a part of enforced decorum for women in 1800. Many theatergoers saw Bunty which ran for an entire season. The Grand Opera House (York) staged the play before its final run in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

While in New York Pearson was a guest of the Century Theatre Club which convened at the Hotel Astor on October 27, 1911. She was accompanied by fellow Scottish actress Margaret Nyblock. Pearson described the history of Scotch plays and players while Nyblock gave some readings in Scotch dialect.

Edith Taliafero and Margaret Greene worked with Pearson in Tipping the Winner (1914). The play was produced by the Longacre Theatre, 220 West 48th Street, in Manhattan (New York).

Hobson's Choice (1916) is a Scotch play which starred Pearson, Viola Roach, Whitford Kane, and Olive Wilmont Davis. It was staged at Teller's Theater, 912 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York.

In February 1917 Pearson acted in The Professor's Love Story before an audience at the Savoy Theatre. It was produced by H.B. Irving and featured George Arliss in the role of Professor Goodwillie. Jeanne Eagels, then a very young performer, was among the players.

The Belmont Theater at 121 West 48th Street, New York City, staged Penny Wise in March 1919. Similar to Bunty in its theme, the setting of this play is Lancashire. It is a farcical comedy in three acts. Pearson performed the part of Rosa Dobbins.

Critics considered this production lacking in both charm and humor when compared to Bunty. The plot centered around a mother who attempted to collect life insurance on her son, who was imperfectly dead. Pearson played the wife of the unfortunate son. Her role was somewhat secondary to that of her devious mother-in-law.

Pearson was affiliated with the Theatre Guild repertory company in 1927 and 1928. Her fellow actors included Frederic March and Erskine Sanford. Touring many cities, towns, and hamlets in the United States, the company's repertory consisted of The Silver Cord, The Guardsman, Arms and the Man, and Mr. Pim Passes By.

Robert W. Lillard, a member of the staff of the New York Herald Tribune, penned White Flame. The play was presented to audiences at the Vanderbilt Theater in November 1929. Produced by James Kenney, Pearson was a cast member.

Pearson came to the Forrest Theater (Eugene O'Neill Theatre) in a 1931 run of Lean Harvest, written by Ronald Jean. Nigel Bruce, Leslie Banks, Vera Allen, and Ada Potter were in the acting troupe.

She retired from the stage in 1940. In the 1930s she continued acting in productions of The Unsophisticates, Lean Harvest, The Anatomist, Save Me The Waltz, and Young Mr. Disraeli. Her final performance was in Ladies In Retirement.

[edit] Marriage

In May 1913 Pearson married Ethlebert D. Hales who played the father in Bunty Pulls The Strings. He also portrayed Reverend Davidson in Rain (1922) with Jeanne Eagels.

Pearson left New York and traveled via the West Indies to Southhampton, England on her honeymoon.

[edit] Death

Molly Pearson Hales died in Sandy Hook, New Jersey in 1959, following an extended illness. She was 83. Her husband predeceased her.

[edit] References

  • "Miss Nethersole in Carmen Role", Fort Wayne Sentinel, January 23, 1908, p. 6. 
  • "Theatrical Notes", New York Times, September 17, 1909, p. 9. 
  • "A Little Chat With Bunty", New York Times, October 15, 1911, p. X9. 
  • "Theatrical Notes", New York Times, October 27, 1911, p. 13. 
  • "Bunty On Her Honeymoon", New York Times, May 12, 1913, p. 09. 
  • "Second Thoughts On First Nights", New York Times, September 20, 1914, p. X5. 
  • "Brooklyn Amusements", New York Times, February 27, 1916, p. X10. 
  • "The New Plays", New York Times, February 25, 1917, p. 30. 
  • "Drama", New York Times, March 11, 1919, p. 9. 
  • "Theatrical Notes", New York Times, May 18, 1927, p. 29. 
  • "White Flame At Vanderbilt Nov. 4", New York Times, October 28, 1929, p. 35. 
  • "Theatrical Notes", New York Times, September 14, 1931, p. 15. 
  • "Molly Pearson, 83, Ex-Stage Actress", New York Times, January 30, 1959, p. 27.