The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-26
SSa9sVaa vesvli
..'.&e HkeatreY.'. :
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

ever on the edge OF being plunged into
somebdy, blue lights, red lights. white
lights, utter darkness dots of utter dark
ness), things happening. other things
looked foi 10 happen, something doing
all the tiIne-through IL all. Sherlock
Holmes, the same Gillette OF Too Much
Johnson" and Secret Service" only in
tensified TO the last degree, calm, imper-
turbabe, bored quick as two cats when
the moment for action comes. and at such
moments making you almost jump out
OF your seat-and then the whole winds
lp with two faces, that of Sherlock
Holmes and the young lady who original
y possessed the package Of papers melt
ing together under dissolving lights like
the Girl with the Auburn Hair
The final curtain comes down at II 10.
IL Is safe 10 say that an audience never
eame 40 early and stayed still for so long,
! 30 contentedly.
IL Is wise precaution 10 take some
thing In the nature OF sleep inducing re-
freshment after seeing Sherlock
Holmes" Otherwise you may not go
soon to sleep after retiring. even though
precaution is taken TO zee that the win
dow fasteners are all secure the night
lock on the front door and no burglar un-
der the bed Even so. visions OF "A de-
lightfully fearful kind are likely To dis
turb repose. Sherlock Holmes leaves inn
presslons.
In the battle of wits the strange case
or Miss Faulkner which Is the episode
that furnishes the theme OF the playa
sang OF criminals whose headqua 'ter3
are In an underground passage inds Itself
mp against the mighty detective. AZ hrsf
sance Z scenes to be living example
or combat tCtween the irreslstabl@ force
and an indestructible body. Sherlock
Holmes seeks 10 compass the captu - OF
the Gang Of criminals and the criminals
work TO destroy Holmes Traps are laid
OF peculiarly terrifying kind on 10Th
sides. BET the triumph OF the de.ec-
tive In complete. he Is himself. apparently
brought 10 the last extremity of his re-
sources and his house Is burned down.
deres rope His own strategy -
Handicapped by love affair. for he tinds
the pack ige OF papers, the object OF ms
search. in five minutes after his first en-
tranceIand but FOR a high sense OF honor.
the play might have been brought 10
close right there and the audience been
joymont accordtnly. But both his detec-
tive labors and his love airair are
brought to a happy. conclusion toSether, IT,,
as dressed by Mr. Giles'e' 'hS me arst rT
place MIR Gillette as Sherlock Holmes. is
more catholic in his tastes in the matter
OF tobacco than heretofore. The inenl-
smokes anvthine that comes handy. pine,
cigar or cigarette. Otherwise the theatric
innovations all tend TO place and keep the
audience I'm the atmosphere creeping mys,
terry that distinguishes the play. A Dig req
light, like thu business end OF dark
lantern, CLEANS from the upper box on the
opposite side Of the house. Other req
lights give a CORY semblance 10 tha back
of the auditorium. The curtain goes up
and comes down I'm darkness. the opening
and ending OF each act being disclosed
and shut from view by the man. at the
switchboard The effect OF this Is a de-
cided contribution TO the spooky The
audience ia always with the people on
the stage rather merely watching them
Theer Is "A good deal OF claptrap about
H. but It's inpres siveness Is undeniable.
IL Is unnecessary to describe the Won
derfully artistic scenes, the absolutely
complete mountings and appointments
or the mass Of clever detail with Which
the play is equipped. Sherlock Holmes.
unique in character as IL is IL staged
with all the fine skill and elaborateness
that nova lays marks all high class
productions and Shakesperean tragedy
does not give much greater opportunity
for the display OF stage equipment
Scarcely less remarkable than the elabor-
ateness and thoroughness of the produc-
tiun Is the skill OF the actors IN making
the audience sec and understand the most
subtitle bits of business and the most ap-
parently Insignificant items or the me-
chanical devices
sherlock Holmes" as a draratlc pro-
duction is in "a class by itself. II is a
mighty stirring and impressive thing 10
see.
Tne only matinee will be on Saturday