A collection of historic reviews and articles on Sherlockian theatrical performances from contemporary newspapers.

Click on these links for publication details of editions used for indexing:

short stories | novels | children's stories

Sherlock Holmes – William Gillette
1910
December 30 - 31: The New Orpheum, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

1913
August 17 - 23: Utah Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

(Information above on performance dates is derived from newspaper archives and is therefore likely to be incomplete.)

TOO MUCH RAIN FOR THE SLEUTH
-
"Sherlock Holmes" Given at Orpheum While Downpour Drowns Dialogue.
-

THE CAST.
Madge Larrabee…..Marion Dunn
Foreman…..Arthur Elton
James Larrabee…..Charles Murphy
Therese…..Dorcas Mathews
Sidney Prince…..James Norton
Alice Faulkner…..Betty Jonson
Sherlock Holmes…..Robert McKim
Professor Moriarity…..Guy Hitner
Alfred Bassick…..Arthur Elton
Billy…..Eva Martella
Dr Watson…..Oliver Balley
Jim Crane…..John Baxter
Lightfoot McTague…..George Sterling
Parsons….Watson Ballentyne
Mrs Smedley…..Marion Dunn
Sir Edward Leighton….. George B. Howard
-
Young Robert McKim got a chance to score last night in the title role of Sherlock Holmes, which was put on by the Howards at the New Orpheum, the next to the  last of their season here. Physically, McKim comes pretty near fitting the part, and as an actor he does not fall short of the Gillette dramatization of A. Conan Doyle's masterpiece.

The audience enjoyed the show last night in spite of a heavy rainstorm that spoiled the first act. It made so much noise on the roof that the people on the stage might as well have been doing a pantomime.

"Sherlock Holmes" will be the bill again tonight, and on Monday night the Howards close their local visit with that funny comedy, "Hello, Bill!"

Honolulu Evening Bulletin, Saturday 31 December 1910

 

Plays and Players

UTAH THEATRE – Robert McKim and associate players in “Sherlock Holmes.” All week, beginning tonight: matinees Thursday and Saturday.

IT is safe to say that every person who has read the remarkable stories of "Sherlock Holmes," by Sir Conan Doyle, in which he brings out in an astonishing manner the wonderful science of deduction, has had a desire to see the world's famous character in real life. The marvelous exploits of the great English detective who used brain in preference to brawn in ferreting out crime and punishing criminals, were set forth by the noted author in a series of stories that created a sensation in the literary world. But after the stories were read and re-read, it remained for William Gillette to blend all of the gripping tales into a play, that for intensity and holding power is not surpassed. He called this play, "Sherlock Holmes," and starred in the same throughout the country, and played to capacity houses at each performance.

Gillette placed the character of Holmes on the boards where all could see and hear the eccentric detective as he moved in and out of the world of criminals, thwarted their plans and lent aid to the innocent, and the play proved to be greater than the stories.

"Sherlock Holmes" will be presented all this week, beginning tonight, and with Thursday and Saturday matinees, by the Utah stock company, and the management has no hesitancy in promising a rare treat for Utah patrons. The title role will be in the capable hands of Robert McKim, who has played the part scores of times with enviable success. Mr McKim is not only thoroughly familiar with the role, but he looks the part, and takes a genuine delight in the characterization. He will be supported by many of the Utah theater favorites. The famous play will he staged under the direction of Gavin Young, which is but another way of saying that it will not lack in any essential.

A band of thieves, under the direction of a brainy criminal known as Professor Moriarity, have in their clutches a young woman who possesses certain documents of a damaging nature to certain families of nobility, and they plan to obtain them and use them for blackmail. Holmes is employed in the case, and matches his wits against the powerful Moriarity. There follows a story that brings thrills, tears and laughter, to say nothing of the amazement Holmes creates by calling attention to the vast difference between simply seeing things and observing them.

In the title role Mr McKim will no doubt be at his best, and his support will certainly be all that could reasonably be asked for.

J. Frank Burke will be seen in a character something new for him, that of Professor Moriarity, but that he will give a fine rendition of the part goes without saying. Richard Vivian, another Salt Lake favorite, has the part of Billy, the boy who assists the great detective. Arthur Morse Moon, whose mission in life seems to be to make people laugh, has the part of Sidney Prince, a cockney. Frank Jonasson will be seen in the role of John Forman, Gavin Young as Dr Watson, the almost inseparable companion of the famous detective. Ronald Bradbury will play James Larrabee. Prescott Erickson, Sir Edward Leighton; Claude Howe, Thomas Learv, and Harmon Weight, "Lightfoot"' McTague.

Alice Fleming, leading lady of the company, will be seen in the role of Madge Larabee; Regina Connelli as Alice Faulkner, the girl who is saved by Holmes; Fanchon Everhart as Therese, and Alice Conrad as Mrs. Smedley.

The scenes are laid in London. England, showing the Baker street lodgings of Holmes and Watson, and also the basement in the gas house where Holmes makes a sensational escape from his enemies.

A welcome piece of news lo local playgoers is the announcement that Professor Willard Wiehe will again resume leadership of the orchestra, and a fine musical programme has been arranged for this week's bill. There will be matinees on Thursday and Saturday.

The Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday 17 August 1913

 

AMUSEMENTS

"Sherlock Holmes" is the offering of the Utah Theater Stock company this week. The title will doubtless be enough advertisement to attract many, especially the detective story "fan." And surely the said "fan" will got his money's worth. The famous detective of fiction, created by A. Conan Doyle, is at his best In the dramatization by William Gillette. And by the way, William Gillette was the last man to play the character role of the piece in Salt Lake, when the piece was on tour a number of years ago.

However, the playgoer could not ask for a better impersonation of Holmes than that given last night by Robert McKim. The Utah star Is physically fit for the characterization. He brings out all of the remarkable mental qualities supposed to be possessed by the detective in an admirable manner.
Miss Regina Connelli, in the role of Alice Faulkner, the girl whom Holmes protects from her enemies, was unusually attractive. She played the heroine splendidly. Nobody could blame the staid detective for wandering from his story book actions by falling in love with the girl. Probably if Conan Doyle had permitted his pet detective to meet such an attractive maiden in his books, Sherlock Holmes would never have gone to the stage before he married.

J. Frank Burke was the villain, the blood-thirsty type that weaves his plots in dark cellars and whom all the police in the world are afraid to arrest. "Professor Moriarity” is the villain's name. Probably there was a degree of "master of villainy" conferred upon him – hence the "professor." Anyhow, Burke brought out all there was in the part, as he has a habit of doing each week. He was particularly effective in the closing scene of the second act, where he is seen in his den, directing his great lawless organization of crime.

Miss Alice Fleming was another of the "villains." It was a blackmailing proposition and Miss Fleming, as Madge Larrabee, was one of the blackmailers. She gave a good impersonation of a clever woman criminal. Her partner was James Larrabee, impersonated by Gavin Young.
Arthur Moon was also a "lawbreaker," his particular forte being safe-cracking. He mingled some excellent humor with his profession In the part of Sidney Prince, proving that even a burglar can see the funny side of things.

The plot of the play, briefly told, is a match between the master criminal and the master detective. Moriarity is a man who is the last word in perpetrating every offense on the calendar. His apprehension by Sherlock Holmes forms a drama that is entirely absorbing throughout its entire four acts. And there is just enough other plot to the piece to give it the lighter touches needed to make it a good evening’s entertainment.

Bidding strongly with the play for popularity last evening was Willard Weihe, who returned to conduct the Utah orchestra. Professor Weihe rendered several solos in his inimitable manner and was roundly applauded. His direction of the orchestra in the State street house adds much to its attractiveness.

The Salt Lake Tribune, Monday 18 August 1913

 

AMUSEMENTS

The sensational drama, “Sherlock Holmes,” presented by the Utah stock company this week with Robert McKim in the character played by William Gillette, is more than holding its own at the State street playhouse, and is causing much favorable comment for the excellent manner in which the famous drama is presented.

Mr McKim makes an ideal Holmes. He has the face, figure and voice of the celebrated London detective who solved seemingly impossible problems by the science of deduction.

While there is no shooting or stabbing, the play is full of stirring situations, and all the salient points of the gripping story are brought out with force by the talented company.

The Salt Lake Tribune, Wednesday 20 August 1913