by Maya Barbon, age 15
Northwest Children’s Theater’s premiere adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, which opened this weekend to an enthusiastic audience of young detectives-to-be, leads right to 221B… Baker Hall that is. As the lights go down on this original NWCT show, the audience is transported to the beautiful halls of Criterion Academy, where the iconic detective and his partner, John Watson, are students. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Sherlock Holmes story without a mystery, and a magical one is about to take place at this prep school.
Local playwright Jeff Sanders has adaptd the classic tale in a very clever way. There is adventure, laughter, spirits, Shakespeare, magic and even some (bad) violin playing. John Watson is invited to attend Criterion, as long as he rooms with a certain student, who is very interesting, to say the least. Sherlock spends most of his time in the laboratory, using his unique sense of observation to discover all kinds of odd things, including how to tell if a stain is blood. He has a strained relationship with authority, yet shows a great love for the headmaster. As the two students become friends, the school gets a magical visit from a legend: The Great Gregori. After his arrival, the greatest thing going on is a great mystery. Will Sherlock be able to figure it out? Well that’s… elementary, my dear Watson.
Andrew Fridae plays the famous detective, and magnificently captures the Mr. Holmes we know and love. He’s sassy, a complete know-it-all, and absolutely wonderful to watch work his own kind of magic. John Watson, played by Mitchell Lenneville, is the perfect partner. He’s sweet, smart, and loves the thrill of the chase. He also gets along with Sherlock, which is a talent in itself. Together, the two make us laugh, roll our eyes, and stare in wonder at how they figure it all out.
Along with our classic duo is a wonderful cast of characters. Rielly Alexander pops in as both the constable and Professor Rands. Gregson and Lestrade, played by Clara King and Emilia Smart-Denson, are the prefects of the rival houses. They’re very comical, and while they may not be the brightest, you can’t help but love them. James is another student, played by Norris Meigs. He is very sweet and proper, occasionally running errands for the headmaster. Yet he can be a little creepy, and is definitely not a fan of Sherlock’s. Kevin-Michael Moore has yet to disappoint on the NWCT stage, and is a joy to watch as Headmaster Stamford. The headmaster is wonderfully funny, quoting Shakespeare and expressing his great love for magic. And that magic is performed by the always fabulous Sam Burns as The Great Gregori. Gregori’s tricks and commitment to his craft will amaze, just like his magic show.
The sets are terrific and really draw you into the story. You feel as if you are inside the castle, with it’s stone walls and stained glass. From the fire in Stamford’s office to the mess in Sherlock’s room, the story seems real. And by the end, you’re on the edge of your seat, waiting to find out whodunit.
Sherlock Holmes is a great show for all ages. Kids will love the funny characters and mystery while adults will love seeing these classic characters as teenagers, just beginning their life of adventure. So hurry and go see it, the game’s afoot!
Sherlock Holmes runs from Sep 27 – Oct 26!
