ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7019, 6 January 1910, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

“SHERLOCK HOLMES/ 1 Mr J. C. Williamson’s new company played “Sherlock Holmes 1 ’ last night. Tho house was crowded with, an entirely interested and highlydelighted audience, and the play was played with remarkable realism, picturcsqucnoss and dramatic fervour. Conan Doyle’s all-seeing and all-con-quering hero’-in this American dramatisation is seen at the acme of his impossible powers, led by the complicated recovery of some valuable papers to the capture of London’s arch-criminal a-nd his horde of cut-throats. Deftly woven into the drama is the lovestory of Sherlock Holmes and the startling episodes which keep an audience in strained expectancy through four acts to the climax, when the detective finishes his life work and begins his life’s devotion. Tho acting is surprising in its goodness. There is a quiet reserve and dignity in Mr Thomas Kingston’s playing of the name part. The vivid enterprises in which the detective is engaged are intensely pictured. Tho cool insouciance of the man is faithfully shown, his disregard of danger, bis secret sin of self-poison, his electric action when tho calculator turns into live flesh and blood, are pourtrayed with a finish, creditable to a man who essays a most difficult part for the first time. Mr Gregan McMahon is convincing as tho great criminal Moriarfcy. His gesture, action, makeup, and force are artistic and vivid. Ho is able to make tho flesh, creep with the villainy of hia speech and action, and ho is particularly powerful in tho famous interview with Holmes in which ho tries without success to slay him. The original Sherlock Holmes would have been able to explain why tho detective did nob arrest tho groat criminal when ho bad him disarmed and at the point of a sixshooter . Still subsequent and necessary acts of villainy make it inadvisable for dramatic detectives to effect early arrests. Mr Harry Plimmer plays James Larrabeo, th© polished criminal of the drama, and plays it acceptably. Mass Ethel Warwick is tho wicked wife of the ruffian, and conveys subtly th© idea that a woman of polish, refinement and well-bred poise may be thief, murderess or anything else mentioned in a Court charge sheet, Mr Hodge Carey is “Billie,” Sherlock Holmes* faithful boy-servant. This is a delightful showing of a cheering character. There were many laughs at each appearance of Billie, who either in buttons, rags or a orimean-shirt made merriment and accomplished serious purposes. There is a good deal'of “fat’* in the part of Sid Prince, an expert burglar who opens an empty safe, and is soft-hearted enough to turn his head when anyone is being tortured. Mr Fred Oambourne makes an acceptable Sid Prince, accent, rod bio, and all. Th© Dr Watson of Mr A. E. Greenaway is a worthy picture of the medical man Who seemed to follow Holmes oftemcr than his profession. Miss Marjorie Murray is th© Alice Faulkner of the story, and as she is the victim of the scheme on which the drama is founded great interest centres in the clever, restrained, and frequently dramatic acting of this lady. The Therase of Mi.<aa ELwyn Harvey is piquantly French. Mr Poland Staveley plays Alf Bassick, Moriarty’e firstlieutenant, and is .particularly good with th© telephone in th©. Moriarty, steel-bound collar where London’s crimes are being planned. Miss Emma Temple is Mrs Smedley. Distinguished foreigners who are responsible for the work on which Holmes is engaged are shown nicely by Messrs Turner and Irwin. Mr T. W. Lloyd, plays strongly the part of Holmes's faithful helper. Th© bunch of ruffians necessary for the carrying out of murders and the other amusements of Moriarty are shown faithfully by clever artists. Th© stag© appoin tmen/ts and effects ore piotonally and automatically perfect, essential to the production of a play that depends for its effect both on adequate acting and on stage-craft and good “ properties.” The piece will be played again to- : might. THEATRE ROYAL. . Lange houses continue to be the eider of the evening at the Theatre Royal, the audience last night being well up to the numerical strength of the large attendances during the holiday season. Th© bright and sparkling musical programme presented in the initial half again met with'a hearty reception, while the tight-rope walking, th© turn of the Tossing Tesfcros, and the other olever items of the second portion of the programme, kept patrons entertained and interested until th© curtain descended. WEST’S PICTURES. A large audience assembled at the Town Hall laet evening to witness the final performance of the present programme. To-night an entire change will b© mode. Among some fine art studies will be “The Escape of Count Valotte,” “The Hunchback,” “The Legend of St. Michael’s Mount,” and others. The seemo studies will be “A Voyage on the Nile,” “The Ruins of Tingad, ’ “At the London Zoo,” and, by special request, “Yachting off Owes.” There will also be the usual comedies to suit all, and tho orchestra will play appropriate accompaniments.