The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-14

than Secret Service" that other excellent
drama in which Mr.. Gillette was so sue
cessful. Although a detective story, II Is
by no means made up of trashy sensation
alism, its mission being altogether good,
while as an entertainer, Ii Is exceptionally
stimulating. 1t is described on the pro-
gramme as "a hitherto unpublished episode
In the career OF the great detective show
ing his connection with the strange case
plot as its groundwork, the play draws
upon many of the best Sherlock Holmes
stories for its material. Many of the in
teresting characters with whom has
become familiar in the various Doyle de-
tective tales are to be met with in the play,
while there are several characters intro
duced that one does not remember having
run across between the covers of Sir Ar
thurs books The story opens in the Lon
don house of james Larrabee and his wife
Madge, a pair OF adventures. At HON.
burg they have met Alice Faulkner,
young woman whose sister was betrayed
by man of royal blood, and who when
dying, left to Alice papers and photographs
which incriminate the young nobleman.
The latter Is about TO be married and his
hired agents are seeking the documents In
order to destroy them. The Larrabees,
ever on the alert for money.making
papers for Matchmaking purposes and
are trying to force them from Miss Faux
ner, who, with her mother, is their prisoner
in the London house.
At critical moment, when the Larrabees
seem about to secure possession of the
documents, Sherlock Holmes, who has
been retained by the nobleman, who wishes
to regain the letters and photographs. APP
pears on the scene. He sets about his
work at once and by clever ruse learns
where the papers are concealed While he
is doing this, however, he falls in live with
Alice and when he has secured the docu-
ments he promptly hands them back to
her, at the same time warning the LARA
Larrabee seeks the aid of Prof. Moriarty,
1.-The spider of crime, whose web stretches
all over London" Moriarty takes the case
for the sake Of defeating Holmes, his
much-hated enemy. Then a most intense
ly interesting duel between these two mas
tiers of craft begins. They first come to-
gether in the detectives room In Baker
street. when Holmes outwits the pro
fessor'' and sends him away Inundated.
Then the Larrabees plan to trap Holmes
and turn him over to Moriarty, who wishes
to kill him. Miss Faulkner's interest in
Holmes is shown at this point, for she
illustrates the male LARA bees design, Offer
ing even to give him the genuine docu-
ments If he will desist from his machina-
tons against the detective. Holmes has
learned that spurious package of letters
has been prepared in order to deceive him
and secures from him the price that his
noble client is willing to pay. Holmes
purchases this package from Larrabee and
delivers il to the agents of his client. OF
course the fraud Is Immediately discovered
is in humiliating position. comes forward
and voluntarily surrenders the genuine
papers, thus fulfilling the wishes of the
clever detective and acting in accordance
with the plans which he had systematically
mapped out. Holmes triumphs over his
enemies and delivers them to the police.
The final moments of the play are devoted
to sentiment. Holmes loves Miss Faux
ner. but believes himself unworthy of her
and starts to leave her forever, but she
has grown to love him, too, and as she
will not let him go, the play comes to an
end with the young woman in the arms of
the man who had been employed to out
wit her.
The foregoing is but brief sketch Of
the story. To tell in detail all Of the ex-
citing incidents of the play would be to
destroy that part of the enjoyment which
comes of the element of suspense. 1t is
truly a play that must be witnessed to be
appreciated. Mr.. Gillette has never been
seen here to so much advantage as in the
role of the great detective. He presents
life-pioture of the character drawn by the
English novelist that is as nearly perfect
as 1t can possibly be. He Is quiet, suave,
self-contained and well-mannered, and in
the more intense portions of the play his
acting is very focible. II has been a long
time since an actor has been so enthusiasts
tically received in Indianapolis. the theater
ringing with prolonged applause after each
act, and the star being called before the
curtain time and again.
The supporting company is excellent.
Herbert Percy as DIR. Watson, Ralph Del
more as James Larrabee. and Griffith Ev-
ans as Professor Moriarity deserve com.
their respective roles. Ida Conquest makes
a sweet, refined Alice Faulkner, and Aida
ess, Madge Larrabee, with a good deal of
skill The role of Sydney Prince, crook
of the cockney type, Is cleverly acted by
Quinton Mcpherson, and Margaret Gordon,
a q French maid lie charming
while her broken French English is deserv-
ing of more than passing notice. There
have been a good many plays in 1ndianapo-
lis this season In which there has been
feminine character speaking English with
French accent. and 1t is due Miss Gordon
to say that she Is about the only actress
of all that have appeared here in similar
parts who has been able to master the pc
culiarities of the English spoken by French
people. Her part In this play, although not
one of great Importance, is study all In
ITSELF and she demonstrates that she is
thorough little artist. All of the minor
roles are well taken, and there is scarcely
any fault to be found with the performance
from beginning to end.
The scenic equipment is admirable, and
the of the light effects very novel and
appropriate to a play of this kind. Through
out the performance the curtain is never
seen to rise or to fall. AT the beginning Of
every act the theater is completely dark
ened, and as the light returns 1t shows the
| stage setting. the curtains having been
| noiselessy raised in the interim. At
| the end of each act every light is gradually
extinguished, both on the stage and In the
| auditorium. and the characters seem to
| fade away as If In a dream; then suddenly
| the lights blaze up and the audience finds
| itself gazing at the plush curtains. To
witness Sherlock Holmes Is to enjoy an
evening of surprises. 1t is play that will
| interest everybody. The performance will
| be repeated this evening and for the last
| time here tomorrow night.
The Vaudeville Mt the Grand.
II is the p,Irnose of q vaudeville nro-