William Gillette (article 22 october 1900)
William Gillette is an article published in the Waterbury Democrat on 22 october 1900.
The play was Sherlock Holmes.
Article
William Gillette
One of the greatest plays of the age will be seen at Poli's this evening. when William Gillette will make his first appearance before a Waterbury audience, presenting bis wonderful New York success, "Sherlock Holmes." The play enjoyed immense popularity for thirty-six weeks last season at the Garrick theater, New York, and now after a short tour of the country is to be taken to Sir Henry Irving's Lyceum theater, London, for a run. It is easily Mr Gillette's masterpiece. He is said in the acting to completely absorb the personality of the detective and lend the additional charm of his own individuality. The story of the play is founded on a hitherto unpublished episode in the life of the great detective. showing his connection with the strange case of Miss Faulkner. This young woman obtains possession on the death of her sister of certain papers and photographs which compromise a scion of a noble house, who, realizing the danger that threatens him through their existence, commissions Sherlock Holmes to get possession of them. In the meantime. Miss Faulkner has fallen into the hands of an unscrupulous pair. James Larrabee and his wife Madge, who, appreciating well the value of the papers for blackmailing purposes, hold her prisoner in their home in London. Here Sherlock Holmes finds her, and the papers as well, but he finds Cupid there also and falls in love with Miss Faulkner and returns the papers to her. The little god almost proves his undoing, for the Larrabees call in to assist them Prof Moriarty, a high caliph of crime, who enters into the scheme with an enthusiasm born of his hatred of Sherlock Holmes. The interest then centers in the struggle for supremacy between these two past masters of craft. Not for a moment does the interest abate until the detecive's triumph is complete. Miss Faulkner and Holmes wed and this will please those who like that ending to a play. The production here will be on the same lavish scale as was seen in New York. It will undoubtedly prove the finest performance ever given in Waterbury.
