The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-23

Sherlock Homes Gillette's new play,
will be the attraction at the Academy
of Music next Tuesday and Wednesday
nights, and at a matinee on the latter
day.
This new drama Of Sherlock Holmes Is
a crafty composition. The peculiarly OF
its success lies in its triumph over the
audience. A burglar cracking safe is a
rather rough start for a high-class drama
Il the bold experiment had failed, MIR.
Gillette would have been called foolhardy.
Now that it has succeeded, he is duly
praised for his bravery. William Gillette
spent a year or two on the piece, and
when it was written, but not yet acted, he
felt sure of the result: he was unreasonable.
Doyle-s tales of crime and detection had
been enjoyed by intelligent readers. But
he should have feared that, Sherlock
Holmes an impossible person in print
would be an outright abSurdity on the
stage Could a police detective officer be
made palatable TO q refined audience, such
as he has always catered to- Yes seems
an easy answer, now that he has done It
It is clear, too. that he was shreWd IN
doing with all his might what he had de-
ternlined upon doing at all. Instead of
toning and ternpering the incredibility of
Holmes abilities. he emphasized IT. In
stead of modifying, he magnified them to
the verge ce sensational melodrama. The
action starts In a fine drawing room. with
two well-dressed blackmailers and a gentle
girl as their prisoner. To them comes i'm
mediately a typical. low browed burglar,
and pretty soon the intentions of evil
become shockingly n1urderous while the
scenes change to a cellar and rookery. and
the crimes illustrated are low down. at
the very bottom of scoundrelism. However.
The keen minds of Sherlock Holmes and
his foe. Professor Moriarty, dominate the
matter Their encounters are intellectual
rather than brutal. That is one reason
for the acceutance and success OF the
nlav At the Garricl1 with It's refined and
aristocratic audiences. Another Is the
cynical 1lumor which Mr. Gillette has
added to DR.. Doyle's creation. thus making
Holmes apologize for his egotism and dis
claim the genius of his achievements SO
he is really more interesting and overt
inc. fellow as an actualitv on the stage
+l-r he was as an imaginary figure IN
the book.
Mistakes VIII Happen.
There is no, mistake about the merf!-
ment in mistakes VIII Happen, when
comes 10 the Academy next frioay ana
Saturday. 1t runs through the play IKE
glittering thread, linking situation 70
situation complication to complicatioL'
There is a new flavor to the fun TOO,
Il
by so admirable company, the result Is
a performance that deserves to be viewed
nv the biggest house the theatre can &C
con,moaate. The story tells of the troupies
in which a stage pair Cforced TO keep thelr
marriage a secret, because thelr 1halla-
rar objects to employing married peopie''
ret themselves. The actor-husoaiu mas
written a play: the actress-"lle Is looAIlls
for an angel to produce II, anu .le
he
,ersnn of a nice, hEpocrihcal Ola seiie,e
49,, ,,-bose wife is stage struck and de-
s;rn,,s or acting in the play hersel- me
,ar,l, ts TO be imagined. The Ansei
..,.,-arIo love TO the actress-Wite, ana the
.e.a- ,1,sha,,d In the process or instruct
- .,,.s..hnpel.s'' wife in the ART OF pa
a.ti,q does some little flrnns ilti H.
Tho -o,e Of the actor gives s5taiieS -
SON scope for some eNcei!sn. -
ne ii.,s 49,, of the World. His acting Is
-, ,b;msical and perfect IN the at
. .s 49,. ,s;d to ali the smaller detaiis.
~ .a,. IN the loft. when Anna Wnlt-
-, a.. unnter-Chase) is being in
s..,,ata5 y, the proper method OF making
80 : too - entrance, is simply bewltchins.
Ne,, IS. McEwen. as the actress. Loro GU,
,rav,ard is winsorne and graceful ~. w
s,,ch pretty women IN one play as MS
Whitsell and MISS -h si-5s' :
At tho B.ou.
Newt Saturday night when the curtain
: down on the last act at the
= sas s the frs, season of the popular
s,sror.s- ,,iav-house VIII have ended The
season has. been a most successful one
from every point of view The theatre u
sesr was a revelation to the amusement
Of the city, and the class OF acts
h i,rs, here has elevated the style of
:. s,,y,s,,.r aan,isements. Manager Jake
Wells. who undertook the plan of Intro
ducsng the new order of things, was no
stra nger TO the business. HIS experience
With the opening and management OF the
Baiou stood by him. He followed his own
suggestions to get the best acts possible
10 secure, and allow the theatre-goers to
do the rest. He did not make mistake.
for with the high standard attractions he
standing -room at the Casino
was serseraMy at "a premium before the