The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-07

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Il nan vho can resurrect a play
40 ~ lain on the shelf for years,
1~'lnvc1f c with new life and hold the
# ntoreot of q representative audience
4 fnronrh four acts has accomplished
( rome(hing and n deserving OF no little
f crodlt This was the feat accomplish
5 "a By william Gillette In the Detroit
ooora house, Monday night. with the
nooistance OF an eninently capable
supporting cast. The revival was a
4 noteworthy one IN every way and was
= distinct personal triumph for Mr..
Gillette, whose Sherlock Holmes
Tor that was the offering-once seen.
can never be forgotten and must ever
. be associated. In ones mind. with the
ohrewd detective as he lived and
moved In the written page.
To be sure. an evening with Sherlock
Holmes means an evening OF creepy
music and OF dark curtains, possibly
Followed by bad dreams, but withal,
+ m evening OF thrills. II Is melodrama,
pure and indebted. but even the most
particular playgoer relishes bit OF
melodrAma now and th,n. IL would
seem.
Il IL not for It's melodramatic fea-
lures that Sherlock Holmes" Is chief
~ notable, however. II Is the wonder
ful character study presented by Mr..
Gillette In the central character that
tntei csts the audience
Il matters not that Sherlock Holmes
never existed In real life. It matters
mot that his remarkable exploits and
his wonderful powers OF deduction
exceed the bounds OF credulity. One
does not stop to think Of these things
when the living embodiment Of DIR.
"A. Conan Doyles world-famous crea-
ton is working out the intricate prob
lcms, which to hi mare so simple, be-
fore the footlights, and there IL mo-
enc before the playgoing public today
who n quite 30 well equipped for this
characterization as IL William Gil
1ette. So, In the last analysis, the
euccess Of Monday nights revival. is
accounted for largely by the Gillette
personality, or the Gillette reputation,
IL you will, which. in turn, trades
upon the popularity OF the greatest
detective stories ever written. Charles
ETohman makes the presentation.
The basis OF the play Is the
"Strange Case Of Miss Faulkner" The
plot II none too well-defned, but Is
en1nciently connected to be readily
followed. In the course Of the four
acts and ave scenes. the audience Is
given pretty fair idea OF the great
detectives moods and methods as
Doyle has pictured them In his works.
His methods Of deduction are con-
etnntly brought forward, likewise his
reeourcefuIness, az witness the mem
orAble scene In the Stepney gas cham |
Der, where Holmes cleverly outwits |
the rascals who have planned his de-
struction.
Y Due credit must be given Mr.. Gil.
letts's associates for the manner in
which they aided in the working out
0f the various scenes and situations.
A particularly clever bit of character |
scting wae me Prof. Noriarity Of John |
ni1tern. Clifford Bruce was capital
a. DR.. WATSON. Miss Louise Rutter
klnyed Alice Faulkner with feeling |
and understanding, though the part
offers but small opportunities.
rSherlock Holmes'Iwill bs-rspsatsdl
Tuesday night and Saturday xfter |
noon. Wednesday, hursday and Sat /
ur9ay evenings. Mr.. Gillette win be
seen In revival Of Secret Service"
and there win be q single perform |
ance of The Private Secretary" on
Friday evening.