Mr. William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes (article 14 september 1901)
Mr. William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes is an article published in The Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News on 14 september 1901.
About the play Sherlock Holmes at the Lyceum Theatre, London, UK.
Mr. William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes
The long-talked-of Lyceum production of Sherlock Holmes — a dramatisation of the novel by the author — Conan Doyle — and the principal actor — William Gillette — came off on Monday in presence of an immense audience. The piece had been most successful in America, but before presenting it in London it was thought well to try it on the good playgoers of Liverpool. They last week pronounced it exceedingly good. They may now feel proud in the knowledge that their verdict of approval has been heartily endorsed by their congeners in the great metropolis. Those who spell Art with a big A, and who affect to despise the melodramatic, will probably be up in arms against Sherlock Holmes; but Sherlock Holmes, being well supplied with six-shooters, will doubtless be able to hold its own-its own numbering some dark places, some dark deeds, and many striking and effective "situations." It is a play for the multitude, and as for the rest who affect refinement, or have it, and who must have their stage crimes served up in genteel fashion-well, the popularity of Conan Doyle and his book will most likely forbid neglect of his play, and will command their early patronage.
The plot of Sherlock Holmes is extremely simple. It sets forth the kind of story that is familiar in the police reports. Larrabee and wife, who are adventurers in the world of fashion, have contrived to get into their power a certain Miss Alice Faulkner, who is in possession of papers which threaten to create difficulties for a foreign nobleman, who employs Sherlock Holmes to capture the documents in his own astute fashion. The Larrabees are eager to get hold of them because they would furnish an easy means of levying black- mail. They enlist the services of Professor Moriarty, a gentleman who has gained a world-wide reputation as "the Napoleon of crime." Here is a foeman worthy to try the metal of the famous detective, and it is in watching the fight between the honest but cunning representative of law and order and those who would resort to desperate means to gain their ends that the interest of the spectator is kept ever on the alert, with excitement cropping up in sundry places, and notably in the scenes of the Stepney gas chamber in the third act, to which terrible place Sherlock Holmes and Alice Faulkner have been lured by false pretences. Moriarty and his accomplices would kill the detective and carry off the lady, and they look like doing both. Suddenly Holmes, without removing the cigar from his mouth, picks up a chair, smashes the lamp, and plunges the place into darkness, that would be complete but for the burning end of that cigar. "Follow the light of the cigar," cries Moriarty, and there is a bustling time. But the artful and resourceful Sherlock Holmes has taken the fragrant weed from his lips and has used it as a decoy. While the villains are hunting for their intended victims the detective and Alice Faulkner have made good their escape. Here, and in other scenes, some startling effects are brought about by a novel and clever working of the lights. It should be mentioned here that for the first time in his career the famous detective is made to fall in love. The object of his passion being none other than Alice Faulkner.
Mr. William Gillette has scored many successes with the part of Sherlock Holmes in America. His therefore is no 'prentice hand at the work, and the impersonation is marked by all that ease which with a little practice comes readily to the skilful and intelligent artist. Villainy in the person of Professor Moriarty has an experienced and clever exponent in Mr. W. L. Abingdon. Sidney Prince, the "pal" of the Larabees, is well portrayed by Mr. Fuller Mellish, and Mr. Percy Lyndal supplies a very effective portraiture of our old acquaintance Doctor Watson. Miss Maud Fealy is thoroughly satisfactory as Alice Faulkner, and Mr. Ralph Delmore and Miss Charlotte Granville make the most of their chances as the unscrupulous James and Madge Larrabee. A crowded house on Monday received the production with great favour. Our portraits are by Sarony, N. Y., and Byron, N.Y.
