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 at the New Wieting Opera House, Syracuse, NY, USA.
At the Theaters
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 Dr. A. Conan Doyle's remarkable character, "Sherlock Holmes," which Mr. Gillette introduced to a highly enthusiastic audience at the Wieting last night, was something of a task. In Doyle's stories, "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, "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, "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 Gillette — like, that there is scarcely a moment that the interest lags. The blackmailing scoundrel, "Larrabee," thwarted by "Holmes," seeks the counsel of "Professor Moriarity," the boss of the crooks, "the spider," as "Holmes" describes him, "who remains discretely in the center of the web." "Moriarty's" attempts to bring about the death of "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.
Mr. Gillette in the title role gave la usually highly finished impersonation. Whether in comedy or pathos, this actor is always excellent, and his "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. Miss Katherine Florence as "Miss Faulkner" did the little entrusted to her very sweetly and artistically, and Miss Judith Berolde as "Madge" was thoroughly capable. George Honey, Reuben Fax, Ralph Delmore and 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.
