Posted: 7/9/03

ëSherlock Holmesí opens tonight

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Masquerís Theatre Companyís production of ìSherlock Holmesî opens tonight on the Forest Lake High School auditorium stage.

The play, under the direction of Joe Hendren, is a murder mystery surrounding everyoneís favorite sleuth, the legendary Sherlock Holmes.

The play was adapted from the original Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1898. The script was written by William Gillette and Doyle.

The play is Hendrenís show in the directorís seat. Auditions were in April; the first rehearsals began in May before beginning in earnest in June.

ìItís going well,î Hendren said. ìIíve got a cast from all over the metro areaóa lot of new faces for Masquerís but certainly not new to the theater scene in any respect.î

The experienced cast includes Wyomingís Matt Jonasen as Sidney Prince and Forest Lakeís Richard Carlson as Alfred Bassick.

Brian Sherman takes on the title role as Sherlock Holmes. Mike Shaw plays Holmesí arch nemesis Professor Moriarty. His daughter, Mary Shaw appears as Billy.

Others in the cast include Diane McIntosh as Madge Larrabee, Nick Doty as John Forman, Ty Mabley as Jim Larrabee, Kinsey Meyer as Terese, Meagan Kittridge as Alice Faulkner, J.P. Barone as Doctor Watson, Robb Ross as Jim Craigin, Roland Chadwick as Thomas Leary and Count von Stalburg and Vince Hendren as McTague and Sir Edward Leighton.

The plot of the play revolves around incriminating letters written by a young European prince to the English girl he betrayed, which are in the hands of the dead girlís sister.

The prince wants the letters to avoid an international scandal, but the girl is in the clutches of a nefarious couple who want to use the letters to blackmail the prince.

Enter Sherlock Holmes who uses her ìMonkî like talents to unravel the mystery.

ìItís a fairly serious show that deals with serious themes, thatís not to say I donít think kids would enjoy it,î Hendren said.

Hendren advised the show will be best enjoyed by adolescents and adults of all ages.

ìMost people have an idea of who Sherlock Holmes is and what he does,î Hendren said. ìThe character has so much more depth than that.î

Tickets/showtimes

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. nightly, except for a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, July 12.

The show runs July 10-12, 17-19. Tickets are available at the door before the performance beginning a half hour before the show. Tickets also are available at the Yellow Bus, 826 South Lake Street, in the Lakes Shoppes. The Yellow Bus can be reached by calling 651-464-2112.

Adult tickets are $10, senior tickets are $9 and childrenís tickets are $6.

The first show of the season, ìSeven Brides for Seven Brothersî broke attendance records over the June run. The team at Masquers appreciates the patronage.

ìI just hope the trend of higher audiences continues,î Hendren said.

The King and I

The next show in the works for Masquerís is ìThe King and I,î directed by Dave Seaburg. The show, which will conclude the season in August, opens July 31 and is running the first two weekends in August.

Masquers Theatre Company in Forest Lake and Community Services are offering a summer Saturday afternoon special. Each show of the summer season will feature a Saturday matinee for which ticket buyers can buy one ticket and get one equal or lesser value ticket free. The matinees will be presented July 12 and August 2. Matinee performances begin at 2 p.m. in the Forest Lake Area High School auditorium.

Food shelf

Masquers also is collecting food donations at the door to replenish local food shelves during the summer.

Those attending performances are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to add to the collection.

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