Cryptic crossword clue
For dress rehearsal Shakespearean actor may well have this pair 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word DOUBLETON

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
D
O
U
B
L
E
T
O
N

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "pair" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case pair = doubleton.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does DOUBLETON mean?

DOUBLETON noun
  1. A set containing precisely two elements.
  2. A pair of cards of the same suit, which are the only cards of that suit in a player's hand

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