Ada Rehan - Knowledge (XXG)

214: 276:, for her audiences in America and abroad she came to embody an ideal of femininity that was desirable, respectable, and aspirational. In his biography of her, one of Rehan's contemporaries, William Winter wrote "Each part that she has undertaken has been permeated with something of herself...Her soul is given to her profession, and the nature of the woman herself is discerned in that of the character that she represents." It soon became clear that Rehan was the star of Daly's company even within the Big Four, but Daly refused to acknowledge this with top billing or any other prioritizing treatment. 267:, and James Lewis made the rest of the group. Under Daly's meticulous direction and management, the foursome won over critics and audiences with their specialities of Shakespearean comedies, Restoration comedies, and translations of German farces. In general, the four leads played variations on the same character types. Drew and Rehan were slotted in to the romantic hero and heroine roles, while Lewis and Gilbert took the older, character roles. As one reporter at the 206: 610: 138:, one of five siblings born to Thomas Crehan (died 1890) and Harriet (or Harriett) Ryan Crehan (died 1901). She was baptised in St Michael's Roman Catholic Church on 12 June 1857. Although by the time she applied for a U.S. passport, she had shaved a few years off and gave 1860 as her year of birth. The family surname was apparently changed to Rehan later. When she was a small child, her family 301: 111: 33: 222: 283:

writes of their relationship that "besides being leading lady, enjoyed the offstage role of grand maitresse...To hold the whip handle by keeping a woman of her beauty and prominence in the compromising position and extra-marital liaison involved in those cautious times was a sop to his will to

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In a letter to William Winter, Rehan wrote, "I am very indifferent toward the future. If I ever go on again with my work, I fear it will be more of the machine than the artiste." After a few more poorly received attempts, Rehan permanently retired from the stage in 1905.

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Ada Rehan was widely admired in both America and Europe, having acted in Paris, Berlin, Hamburg, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Stratford-on-Avon. When she died newspapers across the country mourned her passing, including a prominent obituary in

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on November 24, 1888, when she should have been 31 years old (or 28 by her own reckoning later), "Ada Rehan is forty years old and over. She makes up fairly for girlish roles ... but at close sight in the cold light of day she shows her age."

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described it, "They have one way of playing comedy at Daly's and only one. Whether the piece be Sheridan's or Shakespeare's or Schonthan's or Jerome's, the actors are always good, bright, middle-class Americans." While finding much success in

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and a tour that revived some of her classic roles from her career with Daly's company. However, the staleness that Rehan's performances had become susceptible to as the 1890s wore on was even more evident in these post-Daly productions.

213: 256:, Rehan joined his company. Rehan would continue to work with Daly until his death twenty years later, but their relationship, though marked by enormous professional success for both, was a turbulent one. 279:

Rehan and Daly's professional relationship was further complicated by their personal one. It is generally acknowledged that Rehan became the married Daly's mistress early on in their partnership.

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reported on the fad of women impersonating Rehan's speech, ladies' hats were named for her, and dressmakers offered her costumes for free in order to get their designs in front of the public.

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June 12, 1857 – January 8, 1916) was an American actress and comedian who typified the "personality" style of acting in the nineteenth century.

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Daly and Rehan's greatest achievement, and the production that most reflected their own combative power dynamics, was most likely their 1887

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A scene from "The School for Scandal" with Ada Rehan and Anne Hartley Gilbert, ca. 1891–1895. Cabinet Card Collection, Boston Public Library

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with her in mind) were among her many admirers. And women everywhere strove to imitate her diction, demeanor, and even her dresses. The

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power." Their romantic entanglement coupled with their professional symbiosis makes it easy to interpret their relationship as

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Ada's siblings found work in the theatre. Her sisters Harriet and Kate preceded her onto the stage. Kate married fellow actor

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When Augustin Daly died in 1899, Rehan deserted the stage for an entire year. She returned with a production of

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in 1893. The statue was later melted down for bullion in 1903. More than 25 years after Ada Rehan's death, a

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Rehan lived out her remaining years between her homes in New York and the English coast. She died from

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Rehan was the model for a solid silver statue of Justice that was presented as part of the State of

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first took note of her in April 1879. Later that year, when he opened his third New York theatre,

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Notable Women in the American Theatre: A Biographical Dictionary (entry for Rehan, Ada Delia)

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