Holmes’ is in the House

By Pat Dowdell

What better way to celebrate Halloween in Anoka than to have one of the most famous super sleuths on stage at Lyric Arts Theater!  While there are no ghosts or goblins in this production, this presentation brings to life the pipe-smoking Sherlock Holmes and the cynical Dr. Watson, with their unique friendship and expertise in solving mysteries.  This drama is a flashback, told by Dr. Watson about his famous friend’s final mystery and solution.  The cast of eight, lead by first time director to Lyric, Chris Brown, are mostly well-experienced actors with many years in theater plus a few faces new to our stage.  While there are times when the dialogue is difficult to understand, partly due to the use of English dialect, it functions well in transporting the audience to another time and place.

The set, lighting, sound and costuming is creatively well done to evoke the 1893 era.  The multiple-use stage brings us from the city of London and into Holmes’ study on Baker Street and back again.  The lighting is uniquely fashioned to highlight narratives, focusing the audience on one actor at a time. The sound effects add dramatic quality to the drama, including a unique facsimile of a waterfall in sight and sound.  The beautifully designed costumes represent the clothing of this period and adds to the personalities and dynamics of each character.

If it’s a mystery you are looking for, this production will certainly satisfy the “whodunit” challenge within you.  As usual, Holmes will solve the case, with it’s twists and turns, before you do.  Using deductive thinking,  he renews our faith that he is the ultimate sleuth!  But….wait!  Is this really the final adventure for Sherlock?  Does falling in love coupled with battling a longtime adversary really bring our hero to his ultimate demise?  You will find the answer to these questions and more on the stage at Lyric Arts Theater.  Come, watch the mystery unfold and decide for yourself!

A Little Bit About Pat:
Pat is a native Anoka resident and a recently retired teacher.  Pat taught at Anoka High School for 25 years.  In her spare time, Pat volunteers at Lyric Arts doing a variety of jobs.