Emily Stevens (actress)

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Emily Stevens
Born(1883-02-27)February 27, 1883
New York City, U.S.
DiedJanuary 2, 1928(1928-01-02) (aged 45)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1900–1927

Emily Stevens (February 27, 1883 – January 2, 1928[1]) was a stage and screen actress in Broadway plays in the first three decades of the 20th century and later in silent films.[2]

Family lineage

Stevens was born in New York City, the daughter of Robert E. Stevens (born c. 1837 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), a theatrical manager, and actress Emma Maddern Stevens.[3][4] Her father had joined the United States Navy just before the American Civil War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant.[5] According to The New York Times, Robert E. Stevens "took out the first traveling theatrical company" from New York City.[5] He also managed actor Lawrence Barrett for many years.[6]

She was from a theatrical family. She was a cousin of

Minnie Maddern Fiske. Stevens bore a strong physical resemblance to Mrs. Fiske, which was accentuated by her style of acting. Stevens' mother, Emma Maddern, was a sister of Mrs. Fiske's mother, Elizabeth Madden, and also a sister of Mary Madden, who played with Mrs. Fiske for many years.[7][8]

Stevens was educated at the Institute of the Holy Angels in Fort Lee, New Jersey and St. Mary's Hall-Doane Academy in Burlington, New Jersey.[citation needed]

Theater actress

Stevens got her first training with Mrs. Fiske's company after she (Stevens) left St. Mary's Hall School (now Doane Academy) in Burlington, New Jersey.[7] She made her theatrical debut as a maid in Becky Sharp in Bridgeport, Connecticut on October 8, 1900. Stevens was in the cast of Miranda of the Balcony produced by the Manhattan Theatre, Broadway and 33rd Street, New York City in September 1901. The drama was the first presentation at the venue under the management of Harrison Grey Fiske. Stevens had the part of Lady Ethel Mickleham. As Miranda Warriner, Mrs. Fiske was praised for her interpretation of the principal character. In November the company of Mrs. Fiske staged The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch at the Manhattan Theatre. The author of the play was either Constance Cary Harrison or David Belasco. The theme of the work had to do with a woman who becomes a social outcast because of marital problems. Stevens played the role of Gladys Lorimer.

In May 1902 Mrs. Fiske put on a revival of

C.M.S. McLellan
(Hugh Morton). The Manhattan Theatre presented the play about the daughter of a thief in December 1904. The production marked the first original role Fiske had acted in two years. Stevens, Arliss, John B. Mason, and Marie Fedor were among the players.

In 1906, she appeared in the one-act play The Eyes of the Heart at the Manhattan Theater, a companion piece to the one-act play Dolce by

George Howells Broadhurst;[14] the leading role in The Garden of Paradise by Edward Sheldon;[15] The Unchastened Woman (1915–1916); the title character of Alan Dale's Madonna of the Future;[16]
and the title role in Hedda Gabler (1926).

She received very positive reviews for her acting as the title character in The Fugitive (1916) by John Galsworthy.[17] After the Galsworthy tragedy of the hunted woman was performed in London, England, there had been speculation regarding an American actress playing the same role. The Times wrote that last night's performance only deepened a conviction that the first choice could be Emily Stevens. She plays with a power, a penetration, and an unerring precision that are an unfailing delight. Her performance is one of the finest achievements of the season. She scored a marked success in March 1924 with Fata Morgana, a Theatre Guild production, presented at the Garrick Theatre. Stevens' final role was that of the widow in a Theatre Guild production of The Second Man. She succeeded Lynn Fontanne in this part in July 1927. Stevens played the character until the production closed in October.

Relationships

At some point early in her acting career, Stevens developed a girlhood crush on

Harrison Fiske, the husband of her cousin Minnie Fiske. She seems to never have pursued a relationship with him but enough coworkers and family knew of her feeling for Fiske as it is presented in a biography on Minnie Fiske by Archie Binns. She did not pursue relationships with other men.[citation needed
]

Death

Emily Stevens died in her apartment at 50 West 67th Street, New York City, in 1928.[18] She was 45, unmarried, and childless. She was survived by a brother, Robert Stevens,[19] the first managing director of the Rochester Community Players in Rochester, New York. Stevens was to have begun rehearsals for a revival of Diplomacy by Victorien Sardou in the near future. George C. Tyler was the play's producer. Stevens died the same day as Dorothy Donnelly.[citation needed]

Stevens was under the care of a

hypodermic injection to which Stevens responded successfully.[18]

The medical examiner, Dr.

viscera, which may have occurred from pneumonia that developed suddenly.[18]

Stevens' funeral was conducted from her apartment. She was given an Episcopal service after which her body was taken to New Jersey for cremation.[citation needed]

Filmography

The Wheel of Law (1916)

References

Footnotes
  1. ^ "Emily Stevens". Playbill. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  2. ^ Emily Stevens: North American Theatre Online
  3. United States Census
    information
  4. ^ New York Times, "The Early Perils of Minnie Madden", July 2, 1916
  5. ^ a b Obituary; Robert E. Stevens, The New York Times, July 23, 1918
  6. ^ "Stevens Aids Drive for New Players"; newspaper clipping from October 1926, in the 1924-1927 Scrapbook of the Rochester Community Players, stored in the Local History Depart, Rundel Library of the Rochester NY Public Library
  7. ^ a b New York Times interview with Emily Stevens, December 6, 1914
  8. ^ New York Times; "The Early Perils of Minnie Maddern"; JULY 2, 1916
  9. ^ New York Times April 25, 1906
  10. ^ New York Times September 17, 1911
  11. ^ New York Times October 26, 1912
  12. ^ New York Times "Many New Plays"December 29, 1912
  13. ^ New York Times May 6, 1913
  14. ^ New York Times, October 7, 1913
  15. ^ New York Times, June 14, 1914
  16. ^ New York Times January 29, 1918
  17. ^ see New York Times, March 20, 1917
  18. ^ a b c "Autopsy Reveals no Drug in Death of Emily Stevens". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn. January 3, 1928. p. 1.
  19. ^ Rochester Times Union newspaper, April 18, 1953, pg. 4, Editorial Page, article by Elmer R. Messner (archived in the 1946-1952 Scrapbook, Rochester Community Players collections, Local History Department, Rochester NY Public Library, Rundel Building|[1][permanent dead link]
  20. ^ ""Soul of a Woman" at Apollo for a Whole Week". The Tacoma Times. December 18, 1915. p. 5. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
Citations
  • "The Manhattan Theatre". The New York Times. September 25, 1901. p. 8.
  • "Mrs. Fiske's New Play At The Manhattan". The New York Times. November 24, 1901. p. 15.
  • "Mrs. Fiske To Revive Tess". The New York Times. May 4, 1902. p. 11.
  • "Dixey In Paretic Farce". The New York Times. May 22, 1903. p. 5.
  • "Notes of the Theatres". The New York Times. July 14, 1904. p. 7.
  • "Amusements". The New York Times. September 11, 1904. p. 9.
  • "No Title". The New York Times. November 13, 1904. p. SMA3.
  • "No Title". The New York Times. December 11, 1904. p. SMA3.
  • "Emily Stevens Dies; Was Found In Coma". The New York Times. January 3, 1928. p. 10.
  • "Finds Miss Stevens Did Not Die Of Drug". The New York Times. January 4, 1928. p. 8.
  • "Services Are Held For Emily Stevens". The New York Times. January 6, 1928. p. 23.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emily Stevens.
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