“Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” plays at the Opera House in Marlinton May 15 and 16, starting at 8:00 p.m.

“Sherlock Holmes” says Watson.

“Good Evening my dear Watson” says Holmes.

“Good Evening” replies Watson.

“Your first question involves the late hour I summoned you, the absence of any servants to see you in and the need to scurry over my fence like a ferret” says Holmes.

“Something along those lines, yes” replied Watson.

“All will be answered my friend, all in due time” says Holmes.

What you just heard was actors Clint Carte, playing the role of Sherlock Holmes and Dwayne Kennison playing Watson in the Pocahontas County Drama Workshop’s production of “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure”, which will be performed at the Oprah House in Marlinton on May 15 and 16 starting at 8:00 p.m. each evening.

I recently interviewed the Director, Arla Ralston and several of the actors during a rehearsal of the play.
Arla talked about the play.

“First produced in 1898, Steven Dietz, a more contemporary play write updated it a bit in 2007” said Arla. “It won the Edger Award for best mystery play. It’s been done in professional and Community Theaters around the country. It’s a kind of challenge for Community Theater because it’s a big cast, fast paced, lots of lighting changes, but it’s coming along and I think it’s going to be a really good show”

Arla also talked a little about the set.

“The set was designed by Susan Chappell” said Arla. “Because the scenes change so quickly, she’s designed a set that revolves. You can move from one scene –Holmes’ study- (to) the Gas Company to the Briony Lodge by just rotating the stage. It’s pretty cool!”

As I mentioned, we talked at a rehearsal and you might notice the background sounds like a construction site.

They are finishing putting together the set, they’re sawing some of the molding that they are going to put around the set” said Arla. “It’s interesting because the set pieces look realistic but they are only partial walls so that the audience is going to use their imagination for the rest of it. And there is some hammering going on. There is a large platform on the stage. It’s used for a variety of scenes and also represents the waterfalls that you will see and hear at the end. That platform serves many purposes.”

I interviewed some of the actors playing main characters including Jamie Strauss who plays Irene Adler, international opera star in the play.

“Irene Adler is a bit of an opera diva” Jamie says. “She however hasn’t always had the best choice in men. Irene is going to be spending the majority of this play getting her revenge, if you will, on some of the men who have wronged her, and she will be using her opera skills to make them a little more theatric.”

Allegheny Mountain Radio’s DJ Clint Carte plays Sherlock Holmes.

I’m playing Sherlock Holmes in the play” Clint said. “He’s a pretty notorious detective I’m hoping everybody will be familiar with. One nice aspect of the play is that it will introduce some of these familiar characters to the Oprah House and the Drama Workshop. The banter between Holmes and Watson and Irene Adler and Professor Moriarty that will help make it a success.”

Finally, we talked with Dwayne Kennison who portrays the famous character “Watson”

“I play Doctor Watson in the play” Dwayne said. “There’s gunplay, swords, fist fighting, kidnapping, murder, mystery, intrigue romance. Just about everything you can ask for in a play”

Dwayne also said that he prefers comedy but that while the original script lacks much of that, the Drama Workshop’s actors and actresses have snuck some of their own brands of humor into it.

I caught a couple of rehearsal dialogs for you. This first is between Professor Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes after a rock hurtles through the window.

“And attached to this exquisite projectile – a note” says Holmes

“I know you Holmes” says Moriarty (played by Bob Martin). “I know every move of your game. You wish to place me in the dock, but I shall never stand in the dock. You hope to defeat me, but you shall never defeat me. You plan night and day for my destruction, but rest assured, I am planning night and day for the destruction of you.”

“We are two men who share a shadow” says Holmes. “Our every move betrays us. One to the other”

And finally, just as we began, here is a scene between two of the most famous characters in literature.

“Holmes! Give the police the week they need and they will catch Moriarty for you!” says Watson.

“I seek that pleasure for myself” says Holmes.

“But why must you do this?” asks Watson.

“Because it’s delightful.” Holmes replies. “Don’t you see? My life has been a an attempt to escape the dreary common place of existence.”

“That is not the reason and you know it” Watson says. “It is her, the woman, she has done this. The thick armor of your emotional defenses has finally been cracked.”

“Nonsense!” counters Holmes.

“Your heart at last has finally overthrown your head” charges Watson.

“WATSON!” Yells Holmes. “I shall see you in the morning”

And we hope to see you at this performance of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure on May 15 or 16 at 8:00 p.m. in the Opera House in Marlinton. Tickets cost $10.00 and are available at the door.

CAST:
Sherlock Holmes is played by: Clint Carte
Dr. Watson is played by: Dwayne Kennison
Professor Moriarty is played by: Bob Martin
Villain James Larabee is played by: Chris Curry
Safecracker Sid Prince is played by: Wolf Knight
Irene Adler is played by: Jamie Strauss
The King of Bohemia is played by: Jay Miller
Madge Larabee is played by: Michelle Jeffers
The Newspaper Man is played by: Scott Triplett
Also staring Mark Strauss who fills a number of small roles and ensemble actor Sterling “Buster” Wiggins.
The play is directed by Arla Ralston.