What does Sherlock Holmes have to do with H.G. Wells and time travel? Not a lot normally, but producer and director Faith Toronchuk wasn芒鈧劉t looking for something normal for her latest Imagine That! Productions show.
芒鈧揑 was just looking for plays with something we haven芒鈧劉t done yet,芒鈧� Toronchuck noted. 芒鈧揂nd I haven芒鈧劉t done a mystery before芒鈧� it ends up being both a comedy and a mystery.芒鈧�
In The Secret Case of Sherlock Holmes written by Craig Sodaro, it芒鈧劉s Sherlock Holmes芒鈧劉 first case. It芒鈧劉s a good thing Dr. Watson is by his side to keep him focused.
芒鈧揟his is his [Holmes芒鈧劉] first case, he芒鈧劉s still a bit of a bumbling wannabe,芒鈧� said Toronchuck.
Another requirement was that the script could accommodate a larger number of actors to ensure that everyone who wanted a part could have one.
She explained that not many plays have as many characters as this one does 芒鈧�� a total of 15. All but one or two of the performers are from 91原创.
While the show itself is family-friendly (for those old enough to sit still through a live two-hour performance), it came about through a request from the adult actors who work with Toronchuk.
It seems they wanted a performance for the adult actors.
芒鈧揟he majority of our cast [for this performance] are people over the age of 17 who have done performances before with Imagine That! Productions,芒鈧� Toronchuk said.
About half of the actors have gone through the company芒鈧劉s youth program.
芒鈧揟hat [the adult-aged actors asking for a performance unique to them] is what got me thinking to do a play like this,芒鈧� she said. 芒鈧揟hey run from age 17 to 70, that芒鈧劉s our oldest.芒鈧�
In the play, Holmes and Watson are on a case for none-other-than H.G. Wells. The novelist has hired the detectives to find a manuscript by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
There芒鈧劉s a mishap, of course, when the sleuths end up in Wells芒鈧劉 time machine and accidentally find themselves in the 21st century where they meet a rather diverse and interesting set of characters.
The mystery must be solved, but not without a lot of laughs.
芒鈧揧ou have to be prepared for everything,芒鈧� Toronchuk said. 芒鈧揋lover Road is very busy. It芒鈧劉s one of the main thoroughfares for police, fire and ambulances, and when they go racing by芒鈧� the audience wants to hear you, so you wait. It芒鈧劉s just some of the general human things you have to be prepared for.芒鈧�
Cast members include Derek Usher as Sherlock Holmes and Jared Erickson as Dr. Watson as well as Wendy Klassen, Gloria Nickel, Liam Sullivan, Janet Erickson, Ted Staunton, Bria Magra, Aisley Komatsu, Paul Kobilke, Emily Wheeler, Rachel Kobilke, Serena Jackson, Kelsey Lock, and Hannah Cenaiko.
The Secret Case of Sherlock Holmes has performances Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 22 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased from cast and crew members, through Brown Paper Tickets, at www.imaginethatplace.com, or at the box office at The Venue.
Performances will be at The Venue, 5708 Glover Rd.
