''The Burglar and the Lady'' is a 1905
play
Play most commonly refers to:
* Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment
* Play (theatre), a work of drama
Play may refer also to:
Computers and technology
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* P ...
written by
Langdon McCormick that features the characters
Sherlock Holmes and
A. J. Raffles
Arthur J. Raffles (usually called A. J. Raffles) is a fictional character created in 1898 by E. W. Hornung, brother-in-law of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Raffles is, in many ways, an inversion of Holmeshe is a "gentle ...
, which were originally created by other authors. The play was a commercial success, and a film adaptation was made in 1914.
History
Like many of McCormick's plays, ''The Burglar and the Lady'' was primarily a touring show and first premiered on October 1, 1905, at the State Street Theatre in
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. It was the capital of the United States from November 1 to December 24, 1784.[Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...]
in September 1906, appearing for a week at the American Theatre. The story pitted
Sherlock Holmes, the famous fictional detective created by
Arthur Conan Doyle, against
A. J. Raffles
Arthur J. Raffles (usually called A. J. Raffles) is a fictional character created in 1898 by E. W. Hornung, brother-in-law of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Raffles is, in many ways, an inversion of Holmeshe is a "gentle ...
, a fictional criminal created by
E. W. Hornung. McCormick did not bother to ask permission for the use of either character.
Former World Heavyweight boxing champion
"Gentleman Jim" Corbett played Raffles. The character's nationality was changed from English to American to match Corbett's casting.
The play was produced by Corbett's touring company. Sherlock Holmes was initially played by
Arthur V. Johnson. The play toured the country for several years and several other actors played Holmes.
[
In the Sherlock Holmes journal ''Baker Street Miscellanea'', Donald K. Pollock states that the play "was performed at least 374 times and toured the entire U.S., placing it among the more successful of Sherlockian plays."][
]
Reception
Following the Broadway production, a critic in the ''New York Dramatic Mirror
The ''New York Dramatic Mirror'' (1879–1922) was a prominent theatrical trade newspaper.
History
The paper was founded in January 1879 by Ernest Harvier as the ''New York Mirror''. In stating its purpose to cover the theater, it proclaimed t ...
'' praised Corbett for his "natural and self-possessed demeanor" but was more critical of Johnson's portrayal of Holmes, claiming he lacked "the air of confidence which should accompany the character". The reviewer also expressed concern that "the delights of thievery are exhibited in a way calculated to impress youths of criminal inclinations with a desire to emulate the successful burglar".[
After a brief run of the play in Chicago in December 1906, a reviewer in the '' Chicago Examiner'' wrote regarding the play, "Sherlock Holmes gets the worst of it in every act and the 'burglar' finally gets 'the lady'". The reviewer also referenced Corbett's boxing career: "In this newest dramatic uplift, Corbett proceeds along new lines. Instead of foiling the other fellow with a right cross to the jaw and a left hook to the solar plexus, the actor uses nothing more persuasive than a pair of large .44-caliber revolvers."][
]
Film adaptation
The play was adapted as a silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...
in 1914. Herbert Blaché directed and Corbett again played Raffles. The adaptation removed the Holmes character.
References
External links
*
*
Crossover fiction
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burglar and the Lady, The
1905 plays
Broadway plays
Detective, mystery and crime plays
American plays adapted into films
Works based on A. J. Raffles
Sherlock Holmes plays