Sherlock Holmes Better Than Ever
Sherlock Holmes Better Than Ever is an article published in Buffalo Courier on 25 january 1901.
About the play Sherlock Holmes at the Star Theatre, Buffalo, NY, USA.
Sherlock Holmes Better Than Ever
William Gillette Comes Back With New York's Approval.
Last season "Sherlock Holmes" was presented for the first time on any stage in this city. In reviewing the performance the dramatic critic of The Courier expressed the opinion that both the play and the star, Mr. William Gillette, would score a brilliant success in the metropolis and in other cities where the play might be produced. The opinion proved correct, for after the lapse of over a year Mr. Gillette brought "Sherlock Holmes" back to the Star Theater last night, stamped with the approval that only a long and successful New York run gives an American dramatic production. A year ago "Sherlock Holmes" might have been seen at regular prices. Last night people were called on to pay advanced prices, and they fought for the privilege of doing so. A circumstance which only goes to show that Buffalonians will pay any money for theatrical entertainment providing New York has given that entertainment its approval. It will be surprising if the advanced prices are not maintained for many of the first class productions.
"Sherlock Holmes" in many respects is a different play from what it was at the time of its first presentation. That is, it is much smoother and much better acted. Its melodramatic interest is intensified, and here and there noteworthy changes for the better have been made in the lines and business. Mr. Gillette has certainly achieved a triumph in creating from incidents in Dr. A. Conan Doyle's stories of "Sherlock Holmes," the drama that he has. While the play is not particularly logical, it is extremely pleasing, very exciting and altogether interesting. It is doubtful if any other actor could so satisfactorily illustrate the popular conception of the great detective of modern fiction. The criticism that Mr. Gillette is always Mr. Gillette, may be answered by the statement that however that may be, he is "Sherlock Holmes" in the play of that name, in appearance, action and temperament.
Maude Fealy last night played the part of Alice Faulkner, formerly played by Katherine Florence. We have heard much of late of this young actress, and she seems to justify all the good things said of her. Miss Fealy is a decided improvement over Miss Florence and she did the little she has to do in a highly satisfactory manner. Olive Oliver gave a strong performance as Madge Larrabee.
Next to Mr. Gillette, however, the honors belong to George Wessells and Ralph Delmore. As the two arch villains, Professor Moriarity and James Larrabee, Mr. Wessells and Mr. Delmore give splendid performances. The John Forman of Ruben Fax is also an excellent bit of acting, and Mr. Frederick Truesdell as Doctor Watson and George Honey as Sidney Pierce are also pleasing.
The play is finely mounted, the electrical effects more or less startling and the stage lighting novel and excellently managed.
