Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 19:42, 5 July 2026

2026-07-05T19:42:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:42, 5 July 2026
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	''Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes'' is an article written by W. W. published in the [[New-York Tribune]] on 7 november 1899.		''Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes'' is an article written by W. W. published in the [[New-York Tribune]] on 7 november 1899.

	This is a review of the [[Sherlock Holmes (play 1899-1900 Garrick Theatre)\|Sherlock Holmes]] play performed at the Garrick ~~Theater~~ (New York, USA) between 6 november 1899 and 16 june 1900.		This is a review of the [[Sherlock Holmes (play 1899-1900 Garrick Theatre)\|Sherlock Holmes]] play performed at the Garrick Theatre (New York, USA) between 6 november 1899 and 16 june 1900.

TCDE-Team at 12:51, 30 June 2026

2026-06-30T12:51:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:51, 30 June 2026
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	* James Larrabee ... [[Ralph Delmore]]		* James Larrabee ... [[Ralph Delmore]]
	* Sidney Prince ... [[George Honey]]		* Sidney Prince ... [[George Honey]]
	* 'Alfred Bassick ... [[Henry Herrman]]		* Alfred Bassick ... [[Henry Herrman]]
	* Jim Craigin ... [[Thomas McGrath]]		* Jim Craigin ... [[Thomas McGrath]]
	* Thomas Leary ... [[Elwyn Eaton]]		* Thomas Leary ... [[Elwyn Eaton]]

TCDE-Team at 12:51, 30 June 2026

2026-06-30T12:51:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:51, 30 June 2026
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	''Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes'' is an article written by W. W. published in the [[New-York Tribune]] on 7 november 1899.		''Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes'' is an article written by W. W. published in the [[New-York Tribune]] on 7 november 1899.

	This is a ~~revie~~ of the [[Sherlock Holmes (play 1899-1900 Garrick Theatre)\|Sherlock Holmes]] play performed at the Garrick Theater (New York, USA) between 6 november 1899 and 16 june 1900.		This is a review of the [[Sherlock Holmes (play 1899-1900 Garrick Theatre)\|Sherlock Holmes]] play performed at the Garrick Theater (New York, USA) between 6 november 1899 and 16 june 1900.

TCDE-Team at 09:40, 30 June 2026

2026-06-30T09:40:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:40, 30 June 2026
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	''Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes'' is an article written by W. W. published in the [[New-York Tribune]] on 7 november 1899.		''Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes'' is an article written by W. W. published in the [[New-York Tribune]] on 7 november 1899.

			This is a revie of the [[Sherlock Holmes (play 1899-1900 Garrick Theatre)\|Sherlock Holmes]] play performed at the Garrick Theater (New York, USA) between 6 november 1899 and 16 june 1900.


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	[[William Gillette\|Mr. Gillette]] appeared at the Garrick Theatre last night and impersonated Sherlock Holmes, in a new play, by [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] and himself, made on the basis of selected portions of the Adventures of the Detective, written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Mr. Doyle]], and, doubtless, familiar to all readers of contemporary fiction. [[Sherlock Holmes\|Holmes]] and [[Professor Moriarty\|Moriarty]] are confronted in this play, in a duel of the wits, for the possession of certain papers, the publicity of which might disgrace a royal name. No observer of the proceedings feels the least interest in the royal name or the least solicitude as to its welfare, but all observers are interested in an exposition of mental ingenuity and strategical tactics, and the purpose of the play is the accomplishment of that exposition. This purpose has been pursued by the most conventional of all theatrical methods — the beguilement of a gallant adventurer into a den of thieves and murderers and the sudden liberation of him from imminent peril, at a moment when his escape seems impossible. This time-honored situation may be found, in possibly its best development, as far back as Bulwer's novel of "Pelham." In which epitome of heroic dandyism, likewise, the elegant, nonchalant, imperturbable, and all-fascinating man of action is a conspicuous figure. [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Mr. Doyle]] and [[William Gillette\|Mr. Gillette]], however, have contrived to make this ancient device momentarily effective: and [[William Gillette\|Mr. Gillette]], as the tall, lithe, muscular, expeditious, fey and indomitable [[Sherlock Holmes]], — clerical in aspect and crisp in vocalism, — was sufficiently audacious and formidable to satisfy every reasonable requirement of the character and the story. The play is trivial at the beginning and feeble at the end, but it provides a sharp colloquy between [[Professor Moriarty\|Moriarty]] and [[Sherlock Holmes\|Holmes]] in the middle, and this is supplemented with a good old-fashioned scene of melodrama, wherein one determined man discomfits five bloody-minded ruffians by the simple device of smashing a lamp. The [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories, notable for ingenuity of invention and clarity of style, are agreeable at the first reading and some of them can be read with interest a second time, or even a third. The tale of the snake that crawled down the bell-rope possesses, indeed, a peculiar and enduring fascination — so abundantly suggestive is it of horrible possibilities in common experience. But stories of this kind are for the reader rather than the spectator. They lose their charm when they are taken from the field of the imagination and placed in that of the clear vision. Poe's story of "The Purloined Letter" or "The Gold Bug" could not be shown on the stage: and certainly the essential quality of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s style was nowhere manifested in [[William Gillette\|Mr. Gillette]]'s drama. A large audience, however, followed the performance with attention and received it with considerable favor. The play has no lasting value, of any kind whatever, unless it be the value of an occasional melodramatic incident. The Ruffian and the Page divided the honors of the night with [[William Gillette\|Mr. Gillette]].		[[William Gillette\|Mr. Gillette]] appeared at the Garrick Theatre last night and impersonated Sherlock Holmes, in a new play, by [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] and himself, made on the basis of selected portions of the Adventures of the Detective, written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Mr. Doyle]], and, doubtless, familiar to all readers of contemporary fiction. [[Sherlock Holmes\|Holmes]] and [[Professor Moriarty\|Moriarty]] are confronted in this play, in a duel of the wits, for the possession of certain papers, the publicity of which might disgrace a royal name. No observer of the proceedings feels the least interest in the royal name or the least solicitude as to its welfare, but all observers are interested in an exposition of mental ingenuity and strategical tactics, and the purpose of the play is the accomplishment of that exposition. This purpose has been pursued by the most conventional of all theatrical methods — the beguilement of a gallant adventurer into a den of thieves and murderers and the sudden liberation of him from imminent peril, at a moment when his escape seems impossible. This time-honored situation may be found, in possibly its best development, as far back as Bulwer's novel of "Pelham." In which epitome of heroic dandyism, likewise, the elegant, nonchalant, imperturbable, and all-fascinating man of action is a conspicuous figure. [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Mr. Doyle]] and [[William Gillette\|Mr. Gillette]], however, have contrived to make this ancient device momentarily effective: and [[William Gillette\|Mr. Gillette]], as the tall, lithe, muscular, expeditious, fey and indomitable [[Sherlock Holmes]], — clerical in aspect and crisp in vocalism, — was sufficiently audacious and formidable to satisfy every reasonable requirement of the character and the story. The play is trivial at the beginning and feeble at the end, but it provides a sharp colloquy between [[Professor Moriarty\|Moriarty]] and [[Sherlock Holmes\|Holmes]] in the middle, and this is supplemented with a good old-fashioned scene of melodrama, wherein one determined man discomfits five bloody-minded ruffians by the simple device of smashing a lamp. The [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories, notable for ingenuity of invention and clarity of style, are agreeable at the first reading and some of them can be read with interest a second time, or even a third. The tale of the snake that crawled down the bell-rope possesses, indeed, a peculiar and enduring fascination — so abundantly suggestive is it of horrible possibilities in common experience. But stories of this kind are for the reader rather than the spectator. They lose their charm when they are taken from the field of the imagination and placed in that of the clear vision. Poe's story of "The Purloined Letter" or "The Gold Bug" could not be shown on the stage: and certainly the essential quality of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s style was nowhere manifested in [[William Gillette\|Mr. Gillette]]'s drama. A large audience, however, followed the performance with attention and received it with considerable favor. The play has no lasting value, of any kind whatever, unless it be the value of an occasional melodramatic incident. The Ruffian and the Page divided the honors of the night with [[William Gillette\|Mr. Gillette]].

			W. W.


	'''CAST OF SHERLOCK HOLMES'''		'''CAST OF SHERLOCK HOLMES'''

TCDE-Team: Created page with "''Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes'' is an article written by W. W. published in the New-York Tribune on 7 november 1899. == Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes == [[New-York Tribune (7 november 1899, p. 7)]] Mr. Gillette appeared at the Garrick Theatre last night and impersonated Sherlock Holmes, in a new play, by Conan Doyle an..."

2026-06-30T09:38:12Z

Created page with "''Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes'' is an article written by W. W. published in the New-York Tribune on 7 november 1899. == Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes == thumb|250px|right|[[New-York Tribune (7 november 1899, p. 7)]] Mr. Gillette appeared at the Garrick Theatre last night and impersonated Sherlock Holmes, in a new play, by Conan Doyle an..."

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''Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes'' is an article written by W. W. published in the [[New-York Tribune]] on 7 november 1899.

== Mr. Gillette as Sherlock Holmes ==
[[File:new-york-tribune-1899-11-07-p7-william-gillette-as-sherlock-holmes.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[New-York Tribune]] (7 november 1899, p. 7)]]

[[William Gillette|Mr. Gillette]] appeared at the Garrick Theatre last night and impersonated Sherlock Holmes, in a new play, by [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]] and himself, made on the basis of selected portions of the Adventures of the Detective, written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Mr. Doyle]], and, doubtless, familiar to all readers of contemporary fiction. [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] and [[Professor Moriarty|Moriarty]] are confronted in this play, in a duel of the wits, for the possession of certain papers, the publicity of which might disgrace a royal name. No observer of the proceedings feels the least interest in the royal name or the least solicitude as to its welfare, but all observers are interested in an exposition of mental ingenuity and strategical tactics, and the purpose of the play is the accomplishment of that exposition. This purpose has been pursued by the most conventional of all theatrical methods — the beguilement of a gallant adventurer into a den of thieves and murderers and the sudden liberation of him from imminent peril, at a moment when his escape seems impossible. This time-honored situation may be found, in possibly its best development, as far back as Bulwer's novel of "Pelham." In which epitome of heroic dandyism, likewise, the elegant, nonchalant, imperturbable, and all-fascinating man of action is a conspicuous figure. [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Mr. Doyle]] and [[William Gillette|Mr. Gillette]], however, have contrived to make this ancient device momentarily effective: and [[William Gillette|Mr. Gillette]], as the tall, lithe, muscular, expeditious, fey and indomitable [[Sherlock Holmes]], — clerical in aspect and crisp in vocalism, — was sufficiently audacious and formidable to satisfy every reasonable requirement of the character and the story. The play is trivial at the beginning and feeble at the end, but it provides a sharp colloquy between [[Professor Moriarty|Moriarty]] and [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes]] in the middle, and this is supplemented with a good old-fashioned scene of melodrama, wherein one determined man discomfits five bloody-minded ruffians by the simple device of smashing a lamp. The [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories, notable for ingenuity of invention and clarity of style, are agreeable at the first reading and some of them can be read with interest a second time, or even a third. The tale of the snake that crawled down the bell-rope possesses, indeed, a peculiar and enduring fascination — so abundantly suggestive is it of horrible possibilities in common experience. But stories of this kind are for the reader rather than the spectator. They lose their charm when they are taken from the field of the imagination and placed in that of the clear vision. Poe's story of "The Purloined Letter" or "The Gold Bug" could not be shown on the stage: and certainly the essential quality of [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Conan Doyle]]'s style was nowhere manifested in [[William Gillette|Mr. Gillette]]'s drama. A large audience, however, followed the performance with attention and received it with considerable favor. The play has no lasting value, of any kind whatever, unless it be the value of an occasional melodramatic incident. The Ruffian and the Page divided the honors of the night with [[William Gillette|Mr. Gillette]].

'''CAST OF SHERLOCK HOLMES'''

* Sherlock Holmes ... [[William Gillette]]
* Doctor Watson ... [[Bruce McRae]]
* John Forman ... [[Ruben Fax]]
* Sir Edward Leighton ... [[Harold Heaton]]
* Count Von Stahlburg ... [[Alfred S. Howard]]
* Professor Moriarty ... [[George Wessells]]
* James Larrabee ... [[Ralph Delmore]]
* Sidney Prince ... [[George Honey]]
* 'Alfred Bassick ... [[Henry Herrman]]
* Jim Craigin ... [[Thomas McGrath]]
* Thomas Leary ... [[Elwyn Eaton]]
* "Lightfoot" McTague ... [[Julius Weyms]]
* John ... [[Henry S. Chandler]]
* Parsons ... [[Soldene Powell]]
* Billy ... [[Henry McArdle]]
* Alice Faulkner ... [[Katherine Florence]]
* Mrs. Faulkner ... [[Jane Thomas]]
* 'Madge Larrabee ... [[Judith Berolde]]
* Thérèse ... [[Hilda Englund]]
* Mrs. Smeedley ... [[Kate Ten Eyck]]

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