Paradise Center performs 'The Fallen Star'

This past Saturday and Sunday, the Paradise Center hosted a captivating one-person play written and performed by Kathleen Hubka.

'The Fallen Star' is based on the true story of Kate Hassett, an actress whose promising career in theater was tragically cut short. Hassett began her acting journey in the late 1800s, but her life was taken in a violent and untimely manner.

'The Fallen Star' is the product of extensive research by Hubka, who delved deeply into the life of Hassett, the great aunt of local Paradise resident Jim Hawley. Over a year ago, Hawley shared his great aunt's remarkable story with Hubka, sparking her interest in bringing it to the stage.

“I felt a strong connection with Kate. I feel that if we’d lived at the same time and had trod the boards together, we would have been friends.” Hubka said. “That is the gem that grew into the show."

Hubka played the part of Kate’s friend Matilda Mahoney, a mentor for Kate, who had been in the theater for many years. 

“I took liberties, of course, because there isn’t very much documentation of Kate’s life. I have spent months imagining what her existence would have been like,” Hubka explained. “I took what I knew of the theatre of her time and embellished her story with ideas I discovered during research.”

The play takes place in s small railroad station out West in March 1902. Hubka’s performance shares with the audience a mixture of laughter and a mixture of the history of the times. Her performance touched upon the possibility of famous individuals, such as Henry Ford, John Jacob Astor, the Wright brothers, and Charles Dickens, who may have attended her plays. Hubka’s character reminisced and showed many items to the audience that reminded her of Kate’s life and their journey together. Kate’s life ended tragically on Dec. 1, 1902 when actor Barry Johnstone, who had been stalking her, forced his way into her room and mortally wounding her with a revolver. Johnstone had been planning the murder and was drinking heavily at the time. Johnstone died by suicide the following day. 

Before Kate’s sudden death, she had promised her husband that she was going to retire from acting the following year. She was 29 at the time of her murder. 

The performance by Hubka was filled with laughter and ending with a powerful heartbreaking scene of losing a close friend through violence.

    Actress Kate Hassett, great-aunt of Paradise resident Jim Hawley.