The Return of Sherlock Holmes (play 1923-1924)

Eille Norwood (as Sherlock Holmes) and H. G. Stoker (as Dr. Watson)

The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a British 2-acts play written by J. E. Harold Terry and Arthur Rose, previewed on 1 october 1923 at Playhouse Theatre (Cardiff, UK), then performed from 9 october 1923 to 2 february 1924 at Princes Theatre (London, UK), starring Eille Norwood as Sherlock Holmes. 130 performances.

Conan Doyle himself attended the 8th october performance and addressed a speech to the audience with kind words to the two writers: « I'm only a grandfather, here are the two parents. »

The plot is a mix from The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton, The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax, The Red-Headed League and The Adventure of the Empty House.

The play was then played in Netherlands and Denmark, where Norwood was replaced by Henri De Vries and Herman Florents.

Video

"All change...! A Rapid "Make-up" Study of Mr. Eille Norwood
in "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" at the Princes Theatre, London

Cast

The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1923)

• Sherlock Holmes : Eille Norwood
• Dr. Watson : H. G. Stoker
• Lady Frances Carfax : Molly Kerr
• Rev. Dr. Shlessinger : Arthur Cullin
• Colonel Sebastian Moran : Lauderdale Maitland
• Charles Augustus Milverton : Eric Stanley
• Jenny Saunders : Ann Desmond
• Inspector Lestrade : Paul Gill
• Mrs. Hudson : Esmé Hubbard
• Billy Cartwright : Master Victor Evans (by arrangement with Miss Euphan Maclaren)
• Mortimer Profennis : Stafford Hilliard
• John Clay : Geoffrey Bevan
• The Hon. Philip Green : Noel Dainton
• Oscar Meunier : J. S. Carré
• Sims : Edward Mervyn
• Cecilia : Hilda Moore
• Members of Moran's Gang
  • Old Meff : Lichfield Owen
  • Scottie : C. Lander
  • John Willie : Harley Merica
  • Pat : J. S. Carré
  • Froggie : Jack Minster
  • Ike : Edward Merwyn

Tour cast (> 26 january 1924)

• Sherlock Holmes : Eille Norwood
• Dr. Watson : Arthur Vezin
• ? : Lichfield Owen
• Col. Sebastian Moran : Frederick Maxwell
• ? : Winifred Griffiths
• ? : Grizelda Hervey

Ads

• 
  Eille Norwood promoting Phosferine (The Evening Telegraph, 20 november 1923, p. 9)
• 
  Ad for The Return of Sherlock Holmes (The Era, 24 october 1923, p. 5)
• 
  Ad for The Return of Sherlock Holmes (The Daily Mail (Hull), 8 march 1924, p. 3)
• 
  Photo of Eille Norwood in Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald (19 july 1924, p10)
• 
  Ad for The Return of Sherlock Holmes (The Daily Mail, 7 march 1924, p. 6)

• 
  Ad for The Return of Sherlock Holmes (The Lancashire Daily Post, 10 october 1924, p. 1)
• 
  Ad for The Return of Sherlock Holmes (Surrey Mirror and County Post, 13 june 1924, p. 12)
• 
  Ad for The Return (of Sherlock Holmes) (Edinburgh Evening News, 18 september 1924, part 5, p. 1)

Reviews

• 
  Sherlock Holmes on tour (The Daily Mail, 29 january 1924, p. 2)

Performances

Theatrical gossip about the last performance in London (The Era, 23 january 1924, p. 6)

• Preview on 1 october 1923 : Playhouse Theatre (Cardiff, UK)
• 9 october 1923 - 2 february 1924 : Princes Theatre (London, UK)
• 1924 : Tour in UK countryside
  • 10-15 march 1924 : Grand Theatre (Hull, UK)
  • july 1924 : Pleasure Gardens Theatre (Folkestone, UK)
  • september 1924 : King's Theatre (Edingurgh, UK)
• 1924 : Grand Theatre (Amsterdam, NL)
• 1926 : Sonderborg Theatre (Copenhagen, DK) as The Empty House
• 26 july 1930 : Regent Theatre (London, UK)

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• Conan Doyle on stage