An Evening With Sherlock Holmes at Limelight Theatre

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Posted 2019-06-18 by groover ⇒ follow

Thu 04 Jul 2019 - Sat 13 Jul 2019

The game is afoot! Sherlock Holmes is coming to Limelight Theatre. Directed by theatre president Shelley McGinn, An Evening with Sherlock Holmes is a collection of three separate – yet intertwined – stories spanning 40 years.

The first two stories are based on Arthur Conan Doyle's original Holmes tales but the third is by playwright Jules Tasca, which puts a different spin on things. It still pays homage to Sherlock Holmes with audiences able to view the famed detective's complex personality from every angle, whether it's the sharp humour, sharper intellect, morbid side or the character's obsessive tendencies.

"The three stories follow the usual whodunit pattern but are presented in a different way," Shelley said. "The audience will need to suspend their reality a little more for this performance. While the first two are typical Holmes and Watson stories, the third is very different – and the audience will be tested until the reveal takes place."

Shelley said every play presented a director with a unique set of challenges and An Evening with Sherlock Holmes was no exception. "Coordinating the on-stage and off-stage cast has presented a whole different dimension," she said. "I can't say too much because it will give the game away but, suffice to say, it required a fair bit of choreography without the advantage of music."

First performing as a three-year-old in England where she won a talent competition, Shelley migrated to Perth in 1970 and honed her acting skills with Stirling Theatre and acting classes at The Playhouse with Aarne Neeme. She joined Limelight Theatre in 1993 and has worked in various capacities on and off the stage for numerous productions, also directing Charlie Girl, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Mame, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Glorious Old Time Music Hall, On Golden Pond and Fatal Attraction.

Treading the boards has also scored Shelley awards – she was named best actress at the inaugural South West Drama Festival and was recognised in the best ensemble at the 2009 Finley Awards for Limelight Theatre's production of Nunsense."I have always enjoyed the stories of Sherlock Holmes, both the very traditional and the more recent films," she said. "It was the interesting characters of Holmes and Watson that inspired me to choose this play."

Mark Fitzpatrick plays the title character. "Sherlock's a genius and notices every small detail but he is unconventional and often gently makes fun of social niceties," he said. "He has a certain coldness, is very logical and can be dismissive of the feelings of others."The superior intellect gives him a great deal of self-confidence, making him rarely ruffled. Being so well-known, Holmes has been done many times so, while this gives a lot of precedent for his character, I wanted to be able to play him in a slightly different way – to make him a little original for those familiar with him."

Performing at school many years ago, most of Mark's stage work has been recent. In 2016 and 2017, he appeared with the Perth French Theatre in Le Porteur d'Histoire (The Story Teller) at the Dolphin Theatre and Chut! (Shush!) around the streets of Subiaco.

Last year, Mark performed in his first Shakespearean play at Limelight Theatre, taking on the role of Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, followed by The Merchant of Venice at the New Fortune Theatre earlier this year.

"Sherlock Holmes is such a famous character and many of his stories are well-known," he said. "This play appealed because it was the lead role and it's the first time I've had an opportunity to play such a large part."

An Evening with Sherlock Holmes plays at 8pm July 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 with a 2pm matinee July 7. Tickets are $21, $18 concession – book at www.limelighttheatre.com.au or on 0499 954 016. Limelight Theatre is located on Civic Drive, Wanneroo.