The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-10
EMPIRE THEATRE.

All the seats in the Empire theatre
and even the sky -parlor' boxes. were
crowded last night while the promenade
and balcony stairways were full Of stand
ers. all on account OF Mr.. Sherlock Holmes
OF Baker street London. England, private
Investigator and man Of marvellous deduc-
tlons who with a considerable consump-
tion of tobacco and liberal use OF cocaine,
solved the mystery OF Miss Faulkners
papers and captured Professor Moriarty.
the Napoleon OF crime.
The play is a strong one and Its first
performance at the Bnnpire theatre and
indeed the first i'm the city for some
years attracted n great deal Of interest.
particularly as the stories of Sherlock
Holmes have just had their great vogue.
The play is an elaboration OF the epi-
sode OF the great Professor Moriarty who
so nearly ended Holmes career. and the
heart interest IL built up around the de-
tectve and Alice Faulkner, who is hold
ing her sisters papers and letters TO take
vengeance upon her betrayer, scion OF
nobility who Is about TO enter into a
marriage alliance The story deals with
the efforts OF Holmes 10 get the papers
for his clients and OF the Moriarty or
ganizatiou 10 get them for blackmailing
purposes.
The play. of course comes out all right.
with the pretty. innocent. little maid In
the arms OF the detective and as the
Gillette system of allowing the scenes TO
come out of darkness and fade into dark
ness the climax IS very strong, the house
and furnishings all being swallowed up
into the black obscurity. leaving the lovers
I'm each others arms in the radiance of
the limeight.
Enroll Dunbar who has appeared to ad-
In, 4 thea
tire. has the part OF Sherlock Holmes. and
DESPITE the fact that he succeeds Gillette
I'm the part makes "A strong ana worthy
exponent OF the role.
His immobile face and inscrutible eyes
give no hint OF what IL passing In his mind
and the usual rules of acting have 10 be
reversed for the whole effect or the per
sonality OF the man OF deductions Is OBJ
tanned by consistent repression. A man
OF powerful physique and strongly mark
ed countenance Mr.. Dunbar Is man Ia
attract attention almost anywhere and he
certainly makes a success OF the part.
As prof Moriarty. Charles j. Edmunds
does some excellent character work and
J. Hay Cossan does some heavy work as
James I.arabee, and looks the part OF the
villain.
Some fine character work is also done
by Harry Dickerson, as Forman. the but
Ter. and Joseph Ellenton, Sidney Prince,
the cockney cracksman. X ALI Bassick.
J. T.. Wighoman is very acceptable and
William Belts. as Billy Holmes Buttons
Is a great success with the gallery.
William Belts. tall, slim individual Is
elos pleasing as Parsons. the butler. TO
Or watson which part William Little
takes ncceptably and doubles cleverly
Leora Spellman Is sweet and unaffected
as tho saddened and troubled Alice
Faulkner, and her work Is very sim
Cerc.
4 particularly strong piece Of acting
IL that done by Mathilde Weeping. as
Nadgc Farraher and Edna Bothner r. ac-
ceptable as the French maid Terese
big houses will be he rule all week and
the play Is well worth the trouble.
Next week comes William H. Turner az
David Harum.