2008 Woodie Awards
'Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure'
Rep plays lacks intrigue of original novels
By: Erin Duley
Issue date: 3/29/07 Section: Review
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2.5 out of 5 stars
The game is immediately afoot in "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure," when it's announced the infamous detective is dead. The real shame is that the rest of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' play fails to maintain this initial level of intrigue.
Holmes' longtime friend and esteemed colleague Dr. Watson (Howard Kaye) narrates the flashback of how the greatest detective of the late 19th century met his end with Watson's customary wonder. As usual, the story all started one night in Holmes' legendary house on Baker Street in London. However, the first glimpse of Sherlock Holmes (Joris Stuyck) doesn't reveal the composed genius those familiar with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's celebrated figure would expect.
Watson, having just returned from his honeymoon, finds Holmes paranoid and a bit unhinged due to a general lack of challenge in his life. Good news presents itself, though, when Holmes announces there's a murdering mastermind at loose in the city named Professor Moriarty. Recognizing he has met his match, Holmes informs Watson he's prepared to take on his new rival. However, the grand battle must wait when the King of Bohemia (Michael Sharon) storms into his office, demanding Holmes' services in retrieving a photograph from opera diva and ex-lover Irene Adler (Brandy Burre). Fearing the scorned woman will use it as blackmail, the king wants the photo tracked down before he weds a Scandinavian princess.
Of course, Holmes uncovers a scandal here and there while in pursuit of the photo, but the case is altogether beneath him. The Irene Adler subplot therefore falls flat because it lacks convincing motivation for the application of the great mind of Sherlock Holmes. Besides some amusing moments with a band of cockney thieves involved in the picture scandal, this section of the play fails to be engaging.
Once the plot comes back around to Holmes' real challenge, Moriarty, the supposedly dastardly criminal also comes up short. Holmes talks about how vicious a killer Moriarty is and how ingeniously conducted his homicides are, but it's hard to believe the stiff man in a tuxedo and floral boutonniere is capable of such crimes. Without physical agility or lines of dialogue revealing cunning ability comparable to Holmes, Moriarty is a nuisance with which Holmes must deal, but he's definitely not a threat.
The game is immediately afoot in "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure," when it's announced the infamous detective is dead. The real shame is that the rest of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' play fails to maintain this initial level of intrigue.
Holmes' longtime friend and esteemed colleague Dr. Watson (Howard Kaye) narrates the flashback of how the greatest detective of the late 19th century met his end with Watson's customary wonder. As usual, the story all started one night in Holmes' legendary house on Baker Street in London. However, the first glimpse of Sherlock Holmes (Joris Stuyck) doesn't reveal the composed genius those familiar with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's celebrated figure would expect.
Watson, having just returned from his honeymoon, finds Holmes paranoid and a bit unhinged due to a general lack of challenge in his life. Good news presents itself, though, when Holmes announces there's a murdering mastermind at loose in the city named Professor Moriarty. Recognizing he has met his match, Holmes informs Watson he's prepared to take on his new rival. However, the grand battle must wait when the King of Bohemia (Michael Sharon) storms into his office, demanding Holmes' services in retrieving a photograph from opera diva and ex-lover Irene Adler (Brandy Burre). Fearing the scorned woman will use it as blackmail, the king wants the photo tracked down before he weds a Scandinavian princess.
Of course, Holmes uncovers a scandal here and there while in pursuit of the photo, but the case is altogether beneath him. The Irene Adler subplot therefore falls flat because it lacks convincing motivation for the application of the great mind of Sherlock Holmes. Besides some amusing moments with a band of cockney thieves involved in the picture scandal, this section of the play fails to be engaging.
Once the plot comes back around to Holmes' real challenge, Moriarty, the supposedly dastardly criminal also comes up short. Holmes talks about how vicious a killer Moriarty is and how ingeniously conducted his homicides are, but it's hard to believe the stiff man in a tuxedo and floral boutonniere is capable of such crimes. Without physical agility or lines of dialogue revealing cunning ability comparable to Holmes, Moriarty is a nuisance with which Holmes must deal, but he's definitely not a threat.
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