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‘Holmes’ returns to Victorian Players in ‘West End Horror’
By Stephanie ottey
youngstown
Last season, arranged by the late Marilyn Higgins, the Victorian Players found much success with “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure.” Now, in honor of Higgins and the hard work and dedication she put into the Victorian Players, a new Holmes adventure is running on the familiar stage.
“Sherlock Holmes and the West End Horror,” directed by Sam Luptak Jr. and assistant Donny Wolford, runs through Feb. 26.
The play, written by Anthony Dodge and Marcia Milgrom Dodge, is inspired by the novel “The West End Horror: A Posthumous Memoir of John H. Watson, M.D.” written by Nicholas Meyer. Meyer’s book is written in the voice of Sherlock Holmes’ pal Dr. Watson, and the play adaptation mildly follows suit via a few monologues delivered by the sidekick. The monologues provide some colorful explanations of the mystery as it unfurls, but aren’t prominent enough to be considered narrative.
Tim McGinley delightfully plays the trusty Watson in this production, and Dave Wolford reprises the role of Sherlock Holmes.
The story of “The West End Horror” begins when George Bernard Shaw, played by Phillip Clark Jr., reports the murder of a theater critic to the famous pair of detectives. Holmes and Watson then go on to follow a string of clues and quirky famous characters to try to solve the sordid murder.
One such character is Oscar Wilde. Jesse Pomerico plays the famous writer with a seductive and slithery manner that is unique and memorable.
Another bright performance comes from Bill Finley as both Gilbert and Sullivan from the popular musical duo. Quirky and humorous, Finley is delightfully energetic on stage.
Sheridan Sullivan brings a smarmy and glib Bram Stoker to the show, and C. Richard Haldi is an appropriately sour Inspector Lestrade.
The large cast also includes Yvonne Andrews, Byron L. Armour, Michael Blanchard, Vinnie Dragos, Brandi Hughes, Theresa Leonard, Jacob Nash, Grace Offerdahl, Dan Schiller, Rikki Stape, Davin Stilson and Hunter Thomas.
The script is smart and full of dramatic and literary jokes. Some lines earn quiet laughs, but a monotone, hurried delivery means much of the humor goes unrecognized by the audience.
The famous London setting is nicely created by a tasteful set, and once again, the Victorian Players prove to have one of the greatest costume closets in the community. Marlene Strollo delivers a pristine costume design.
Inconsistent dialect is the most confusing aspect of the production. The supporting characters aid in creating the setting by speaking in strong British accents, but the leads refrain from adopting a dialect. This creates an unusual imbalance within the cast.
According to Luptak’s notes, the theater hopes to produce a Sherlock Holmes show bi-annually to honor the goals of Higgins. Whether Holmes visits the Victorian stage again or not, the fact that the theater continues to thrive and succeed is a great tribute to the hard work of one of the most beloved characters to make a mark on the Youngstown theater community.
Performances run Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Feb. 26. The Victorian Players can be found at 702 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown. For tickets, call 330-746-5455.