The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-07
Miss Rehan's Return.
Her Tour With Otis Skinner an Aus
picious Undertaking.

The return of Ada Rehan. scheduled
for a week from tomorrow night, at
the National Theater. when she viii
appear in stellar conjunction with Otis
Skinner for the first time in Washing
ton. has awakened more interest among
cultured theatergoers than almost any
announcement OF the current season.
The Rehan-Skinner repertoire was ar,
ranged last evening as follows. Mon
day and Tuesday nights. The Mer-
chant OF Venice" Wednesday and
Thursday nights. The School for Scan
dali Friday night, Saturday matinee.
and Saturday night, The Tanning Of
Ahe Shrew.'
Miss Rehan has been seen very little
on the stage since the death OF her Did
manager, Augustin DAILY. She was last
here about four years ago, appearing
in a play entitled Sweet Nell OF Old
Drury.''
Since this time Miss Rehan has been
abroad at her bungalow home in Cum
berland. England. or, at least, until she
received George c. Tyler's invitation
ton last September for joint starring
tour with her old confrere, Otis Skin
ner.
This tour has now lasted something
over four months. extending as far
south as New Orleans and as far west
as Kansas city. Brilliant audiences
have greeted Miss Rehan and Mr.. Skin
ner in every city visited. and theirs
has proven one OF the most profitable
ventures of this curious theatrical sea-
son from a pecuniary standpoint
They come TO Washington almost di-
rectIy from the Lyric Theater, New
York. where during the three weeks
which closed last night they have ac-
complished what every manager conced-
ed 10 be the largest artistic and financial
success Of the present season in the
metropolis When they first appeared
at the Lyric. the house literally rose
to them"
Ada Rehan is far removed from any
necessity for work If the spirit did not
move her She has earned enormous
salaries for many years. and has lived
modestIy 1t will also be recalled by
the terms of Mr.. Days viii she was
left nearly one-third OF his entire estate.
This amounted to nearly $4,000 in cash
besides a large property in plays,
sceneries. costumes, books. plate. fur
niture. etc.
An Unfamiliar Story.
No name associated with the Ameri-
can stage is so widely known as that of
| Ada Rehan. yet she has invariably
shrunk from every form OF publicity
Her long career at the head Of Angus
tin Days famous stock company made
her famous beyond the lot Of most
stars. but In her private life she has
moved so quietly that though the fame
/ OF her name still rings in England.
France and Germany, as we'll as
| throughout America, the public knows
\ less of her perhaps as a woman than
of almost any other celebrity that might
/ be named.
Ada Rehan was born in Limerick. Ire
land. at the date that proves her twenty
years younger than Madame Modjeska.
and exactly one decade younger than
Mrs. Langtry. Her father, ship
master, lost his all in the wreck of a
vessel and came to America with his
wife and five daughters when Ada was
six years of age He settled in New
York city. where the future actress was
carefully reared by a mother of unusual
mentality and exceptional literary taste.
Ada was the youngest daughter The
Oldest became the wife Of oliver Doud
| Byron, a well-known actor. During a
school vacation. when about thirteen
years old. Ada Travelled with Mrs. Byron
in a professional tour Of cities and towns
adjacent to New York. One night in
Newark, a woman of Byron's company
playing the part OF an old bag in one
OF Byron's own melodramas became