View source for At the Theaters (article 31 october 1899 Evening Herald)

''At the Theaters'' is an article published in [[The Evening Herald (Syracuse)]] on 31 october 1899.

About the play [[Sherlock Holmes (play 1899 New Wieting Opera House, Syracuse)|Sherlock Holmes]] at the ''New Wieting Opera House'', Syracuse, NY, USA.


== At the Theaters ==
[[File:the-evening-herald-syracuse-1899-10-31-p13-at-the-theaters.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[The Evening Herald (Syracuse)]] (31 october 1899, p. 13)]]

[[William Gillette]] has a habit of making good plays, and with the memory of the public still fondly recalling "Too Much Johnson" and "Secret Service," he has brought to us a work which in many respects promises greater popularity than its predecessors. The dramatization, or rather or adaption, to the drama of [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Dr. A. Conan Doyle]]'s remarkable character, "[[Sherlock Holmes]]," which [[William Gillette|Mr. Gillette]] introduced to a highly enthusiastic audience at the Wieting last night, was something of a task. In [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Doyle]]'s stories, "[[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]]" does so very many things, and yet so very few that could be effectively engifted into a play, that the adapter has been obliged to and a new thread on which to hang the doings of the sagacious detective.

The thread which he has selected is called "The Strange Case of Miss Faulkner," and it supplies that necessary incident, a love interest. As the story goes, "[[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]]" has been engaged by an English nobleman to recover possession of certain letters and papers which were the property of "Miss Faulkner's" sister, who is dead, and which are compromising to the said nobleman, who is about to be married. "Miss Faulkner," who intends to use the documents for the purpose of revenge, has fallen into the hands of two murderous persons, who are also after the papers, for the purposes of blackmail, "[[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]]," in the course of some exciting events, obtains what he seeks, but at the same time fails into Cupid's net and returns the package to "Miss Faulkner." As a climax, "Miss Faulkner" herself presents the papers to the nobleman and throws herself into the arms of the detective.

The story seems simple enough, but the manner in which it is told, the methods employed in its unfolding, are so clever and so [[William Gillette|Gillette]] — like, that there is scarcely a moment that the interest lags. The blackmailing scoundrel, "Larrabee," thwarted by "[[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]]," seeks the counsel of "[[Professor Moriarty|Professor Moriarity]]," the boss of the crooks, "the spider," as "[[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]]" describes him, "who remains discretely in the center of the web." "[[Professor Moriarty|Moriarty]]'s" attempts to bring about the death of "[[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]]" causes most of those thrilling situations which are so abundant. There are a large number of characters in the play, some of them only appearing once.

[[William Gillette|Mr. Gillette]] in the title role gave la usually highly finished impersonation. Whether in comedy or pathos, this actor is always excellent, and his "[[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]]" is a character that will compare favorably with his former efforts. The supporting company was exceptionally good, although opportunities for individual successes are few. The "Moriarty" of [[George Wessels]] was a convincing piece of work, and the "Doctor Watson" of [[Bruce McRae]] was noteworthy. [[Katherine Florence|Miss Katherine Florence]] as "Miss Faulkner" did the little entrusted to her very sweetly and artistically, and [[Judith Berolde|Miss Judith Berolde]] as "Madge" was thoroughly capable. [[George Honey]], [[Reuben Fax]], [[Ralph Delmore]] and [[Hilda Englund|Hilda England]] deserve mention. The play was sumptuously mounted and produced with great attention to detail. A now idea was the complete darkening of the theater before the rise and fall of each curtain, the scenes of the play dawning upon the audience by degrees. It was as effective as novel. The play will be repeated to-night.









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