Some of the Elk Lake actors in ‘Baker Street Irregulars’ include, from left, Travis Tewsbury, Allison Hewitt, Kevin Burns and Troy Rought.
BY PAT FARNELLI
Times-Shamrock Correspondent
For Elk Lake’s next drama production, student actors will attempt to solve a big top mystery while coming to the aid of the legendary Sherlock Holmes. The show, “Baker Street Irregulars,” will be staged Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and tickets are $3.
According to cast member Iolaus Trowbridge, ‘Baker Street Irregulars’ is about a bunch of ‘irregulars,’ or orphans, who get called in by Sherlock Holmes to help him solve a murder case at a circus when he suddenly gets sick.”
First appearing in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes stor,y “A Study in Scarlet,” the Baker Street Irregulars are a group of street children who assist Holmes from time to time.
While embarking on an investigation of a murder at the Wainwright Circus, Sherlock Holmes falls gravely ill and is unable to perform his usual duties.
Luckily, the Irregulars show up and get the low-down from the acrobats, clowns and animal trainers, as well as the circus owner and his daughter.
With their snooping and clever detective work, the Baker Street Irregulars solve the crime and discover the mystery behind Sherlock’s sudden illness.
Director Ina Bradish is delighted with this script from Pioneer Drama. She said that, with lots of unique roles, this fun period piece has all the familiar traits of a good Holmes mystery, but without Sherlock Holmes.
“It gives each child the opportunity to own a role. Each scene is kind of individual or separate, so they each get the spotlight, and get to be the star of a scene, after the intro scenes,” she explained. “It’s an interesting way to do a show. The scenes can even be flip-flopped around after the intro.”
Braddish noted that while Sherlock Holmes isn’t actually in the play, it has the feel of one of Conan Doyle’s mysteries, and some British humor.
“The kids use their observation skills to solve the crime before Scotland Yard does,” she said.
The cast includes Alaska: Natalie Newhart; Phoebe: Rachel Zayleskie; Quinn: Madeline Spila; Elza: Haley Skinner; Piper: Reilly Shingler; Digger: Brynn DeLong; Zolda: Cydney DeWitt; Blythe: Rachel Drazba; Tara: Amelia Comly; Charity: Dana Nunemaker; Nicole: Caitlyn Brown; Finnegan: Kyler DeGrote; Wiggins: Kevin Burns; Lestrade: Travis Tewksbury; Wainwright: Matthew Orr; Fess: Will Farnelli; Officer Wilkes: Troy Rought; Officer Pelham: Allison Hewitt; Jingles: Chris Kinder; Crank: Iolaus Trowbridge; Fluffy: Makayla Davis; Hawker: Justin Grosvenor.
The play is written by Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus.
Assistant director is Rita Edwards, technical director is Melanie Transue, and costume director is Kathy Zayleskie.
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