SHERLOCK HOLMES MATERIALISED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 677, 26 February 1903, Page 10

SHERLOCK HOLMES MATERIALISED.

When Na'ure moulded the form and temperament of Mr Cuyler Hastings, she must have turned her wand 1 toward Conan Doyle and imbued him with the idea of Sherlock Holmes. For the part seems to have been made for the actor and the actor for the part. In private life Mr Hastings’ personality is a striking one, and it may be taken for granted that he would have made his mark in any profession. In form he is cleanly-

built, tall and endowed with fine nerve, while his mixed lineage, partly of the old Knickerbocker, partly English, and partly Irish, is evident. He is only two or three years over thirty, and has been on the stage since 1890, in which year, though called to the bar at Toronto, Canada, his native place, he elected to adopt the theatrical profession. That his instinct was right his remarkable success has amply shown. He was resolved to learn his business through and through, and, as he says in his pleasant way, he has played every conceivable sort of part from a negro to a Chinaman. He has been associated with every manager of note in the United States, including Daniel and Charles Frohman, W. A. Brady, Kirke Leehelle, D. Belasco, Augustin Daly, and F. McKee He has played in Shakespeare, but his principal successes have been in modern comedy, drama and “ problem ” .plays. He stepped into Sherlock Holmes unpectedly. It was in this wise : In “ The Great Ruby,” in which he . took the role of the Prince in the season 1900-1, there is a detective part, and when Mr Gillette was looking for a Sherlock Holmes he went to see the impersonator of that detective. When, however, he saw Mr Hastings, he knew that he was the artist he was in search of and engaged him forthwith. Mr Hastings played the part during that and the following season, and was subsequently engaged by Mr J. C. Williamson for the Australasian tour, joining the present company at Adelaide, and opening at Melbourne, with what success we all know.

Mr Hastings is more than pleased with New Zealand, but he finds the audiences here somewhat different from those of other countries, particularly America. They are kind and friendly, but not nearly so demonstrative. Perhaps they are more critical, but they certainly knew a good thing when they see it. In the States approval and disapproval are shown with unmistakable emphasis. Sherlock Holmes,” Mr Hastings regards as an essentially good play, and one in which Mr Gillette has displayed his finest powers as a playwright. “If I were . King,” the play which follows, is of a different type, appealing to a different side of human sympathy, but in its way also a masterly production. Asked as to the tendency of popular i taste, Mr Hastings very shrewdly re- ' marks that the only tendency he has observed is the perpetual one towards gooa plays, no matter what their special ' nature may be, or in what period of the I world’s history the scene is laid. For ! the best of every kind there is an un- I failing welcome. He instances the two productions named aboved, in which he himself plays so conspicuously and so admirably.

In England this season were produced no less than one hundred and twenty pantomimes. Think of it.