About the show
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson land in St. John`s the year after the Great Fire and find themselves embroiled in a case involving a governor's dead son and an illicit romance that crosses class and religion.
It is murder? Or something more curious?
Find out as the actors of the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival perform this site-specific work by lamplight underground in the Newman Wine Vaults, Provincial Historic Site - now in it's third hit season.
Background
In January 1892 the SS Prudence set sail from Rouen, France en route to Philadelphia and ran aground in Broad Cove, Newfoundland. The master was Peter Ross.
On July 8th, 1892 a great fire leveled St. John's, Newfoundland.
As best can be ascertained by certain Holmesian Chronicles, there is a significant absence of cases from March 1891 through April of 1894. The period was dubbed ‘the Great Hiatus’.
In between the adventure of “The Final Problem” (April 1891) and the “The Adventure of the Empty House” (April 1894) Watson's wife, Mary Morstan passes and Watson moves back into 221B Baker Street.
The stage for our play is April/May of 1893
Betwixt those dates, in this building and amongst these events is the setting for our scene.
Director’s notes
‘My name is Sherlock Holmes. Possibly it is familiar to you. In any case, my business is that of every other good citizen - to uphold the law. It seems to me that you have much to answer for.’
-- Sherlock Holmes
…And I have had much to answer for — this well-spun mystery to unravel, the setting of the Vaults to play in, the talented actors to liven these fictional characters, the creative crew to turn new to old, and the artistic adventure of directing this Curious Case.
So as Holmes said: ‘Come, friends, do not dream of going for I much prefer having a witness.’
- Wendi Smallwood
