William Gillette, who wrote this melodrama, was the definitive Holmes of his generation, and this production is a great tribute to him. Being an old melodrama, the live audience laughed throughout: but the actors got in to the spirit of the fun and we should too. It is a very well-staged play, superbly paced and acted, and the audience applauded every time the curtain rose. In a word, I enjoyed it immensely.
What I think is particularly valuable here are the well-known props. Mr. Gillette invented the use of the deerstalker and the Inverness cape--they're here. I guess I miss the big calabash a little. Mr. Langella is a powerful force, and interprets the part most satisfactorily. One can see that, despite his important film roles, he is most effective as a stage actor. Stephen Collins did a good turn, as did George Morfogen as Professor Moriarty (wait till you see the tortuous vein throbbing in his forehead).
On the negative side, the ending was a little unsettling--but I don't want to spoil anything. Great fun.
What I think is particularly valuable here are the well-known props. Mr. Gillette invented the use of the deerstalker and the Inverness cape--they're here. I guess I miss the big calabash a little. Mr. Langella is a powerful force, and interprets the part most satisfactorily. One can see that, despite his important film roles, he is most effective as a stage actor. Stephen Collins did a good turn, as did George Morfogen as Professor Moriarty (wait till you see the tortuous vein throbbing in his forehead).
On the negative side, the ending was a little unsettling--but I don't want to spoil anything. Great fun.