Eugenie A. Blair (1864 – May 13, 1922) was an American stage actress, who, at the age of 22, was touring with Lawrence Barrett in 1886. The San Francisco Examiner, while reviewing Barrett's work at the peak of his career, commented favorably on Blair's acting: 'In "The Wonder" and "The King's Pleasure" Miss Eugenia Blair has had her first opportunity since the engagement began. She is a charming young actress, with a very attractive voice and manner.... In the "King's Pleasure" especially she looks like a bit of lovely old porcelain, and she fits perfectly into the significant and Hugoesque fragment of French romance which Alfred Thompson has dressed in such poetic and expressive English. (San Francisco Examiner, May 16. 1886, p. 6)
Eugenie Blair | |
|---|---|
 Eugenie Blair (right) with Pauline Lord and James T. Mack in the original Broadway production of Anna Christie (1921) | |
| Born | Eugenie A. Blair 1864 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | May 13, 1922 (aged 57–58) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Resting place | Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum[citation needed] |
| Spouse | Robert L. Downing |
| Children | 1 |
Blair is best remembered for originating the role of Marthy Owen in the premiere 1921 Broadway presentation of Eugene O'Neill's play Anna Christie. Blair died moments after walking offstage at the Cort Theatre in Chicago during her performance as Anna Christie, which she chose to carry out in spite of not feeling well that evening.[1] Blair had been married to Shakespearean actor Robert L. Downing, her second husband. Blair's Broadway appearances were sporadic until towards the end of her life. She toured extensively in her youth.
She collapsed and died after playing Marthy in Anna Christie in Chicago.[2]
References
edit- ^ EUGENIE BLAIR DIES PLAYING STAGE ROLE; Sticks to Her Part, Though Ill, Till Curtain Falls and Then Expires (New York Times, May 15, 1922)
- ^ EUGENIE BLAIR BURIED.; Many Thespians Attend Services for Veteran Actress in Chicago (New York Times, May 18, 1922)
External links
edit- Eugenie Blair at the Internet Broadway Database
- Eugenie Blair portrait gallery (NY Public Library, Billy Rose collection)
- portraits of her daughter, Eleanor Montell (Univ. of Washington, Sayre collection)
- Eugenie Blair: North American Theatre Online
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