Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-02
COMPANY. WAS CcEPTABLE.

Time vas, and not many yearSadSo
when the matinee girl chewed caramels
and bon-bons and raved over handsome
Herbert Kelley between chews. That
was when he essayed heroic roles with
the Lyceum stock. and appeared In such
plays as ...The Wife, Charity Ball.
and Men and Women. =
That erstwhi1e idol appeared in the
Academy at Two performances yester-i
day, in the Conan Doyle-Gillette version
OF. Sherlock Holmes Large audiences
attested the popularity of the actor, and
the great interest felt in anything hat
concerns the doing Of the imaginative
detective in whatsoever phase he may be
presented.
Anything that is surrounded with mys-s
terry appeals to the public appetite, and
this same public wa aware Of the fact.
that.f If any one on earth could unraveE
the skein Of dark secrecy Sherlock
Holmes was the man.
!. AUDIENCE WAS CURIOUS.
Therefore. it was not surprising that
Kelcey's auditors were curiouA First
of all they wanted to discern with their
own eyes just what DR.. Doyle's 4sleuth
would be. able to do in solving the
strange case Of Alice Faulkner. and sec
ondly what changes time had wrought
in the former matinee girls hero.
Interest in the play was further stimu-
lated by the fact that it was advertised
as a. hitherto unpublished episode i'll the
life of the great detective, and any
thing unpublished in regard to the doings
OF such a really great man" as Sherlock
Holmes is wo.'thy of more than passing
notice.
William Gillette, who co!laborated with
Dr.. Doyle in presenting, to the stage.
a dran1atization Of Holmes adventures.
depicted the role with great success,
both In this country and in England.
The play not only added to Gillette's
fame as an author and actor, but mate
rally increased his bank account, and
he Is still playing the piece with unquall-
fed success in the provinces.
COMPARISON OD1OUs.
A comparison between Gillette and Kel-
cey would be odious. They are different
in personality, mannerisms, and concep-
ton. This is not said, however, in dis
paragement of the latter, for the, por-
trayal he gave us yesterday was In many
respects as entertaining and convincing
as that of the originator of the charac ter.
Age has dealt kindly with Kelley. True
his locks are somewhat wllitened by add
ed years, and the lines are more distinct,
vet he is the same progressing manly
Kelcey as of matinee girl idol" times.
His Sherlock Holmes stands out as one
of his best characterizations, and I'M
stinted praise is due him for the really
clever work he did in the play last night.
More than passing notice is due his
wife, Miss Shannon, who was seen. to adj
vantage III the role Of Alice Faulkner,
about whom the action Of the play re-
volyed. The supporting company was
acceptable, and the play was staged with
the same accuracy to locale and detail
and with the same varying electrical
effects that characterized the original
production. j. W. a.
The engagement of the Fawcett Com
pany at the Bijou Is nearing its end
Torrance tonight there will be but three
more chances to witness the superb pro
duction of Secret Service In this
Gillette drama the company has scored
an immense hit and yesterday played tc
the utmost capacity of the theatre at both
matinee and night performances.
Manager Wells will present Looping
the Loop at the Bijou for three nights
and two matinees commencing Monday
of next week. This is one of the most
successful Of the twentieth century fares
musical comedy shows of the season:
The Bjou Musical Comedy Company
will come to the Bijou for three days
commencing with the matinee on Thurs
day, and their Offering will be "a Con,
tented Woman with Miss Agnes Ross
Lane in the leading role.
De Wolf Hopper and a remarkable
company will appear III ..A1r. Pickwick
at the Academy tonight" Digby Bell is
one Of the principals in the support OF
Mr.. Hopper, as is likewise his wife,
Laura Joyce Bell. a magnificent produc-
ton Will be given the piece, and one OF
the real musical treats Of the year Is IN
store for theatre-goers
Crsatore, that great Italian band lead
er, SO much talked about at present IN
all musical circles, is an exception mas
much as his success has been universal
In every CITY where he has appeared he
has instantly become a topic Of conyersa-
ton, and this is particularly so in New
York city, where he played for one hun.
iret. nights, and Pittsburg. where he was
the attraction for two weeks at the expo
sition, breaking the attendance record OF
fourteen years. His appearance here al
the Academy next Monday night will
afford an opportunity to study the most
intense musical personality this country
has known for years. -
Scientific Men Meet
Dr.. E. w. Magruder. chief chemist OF
the department. Of agriculture. returned
"Wednesday from Washington. where lie
has been in attendance upon the meeting