In this play by renowned American playwright Ken Ludwig, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are back on the case! An investigation into the Bohemian king’s stolen letters cascades into an international mystery filled with spies, blackmail, and intrigue. With world peace at stake, Holmes and Watson join forces with American actress Irene Adler to take down cunning criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty and his network of devious henchmen. Five actors play over 20 roles in this brand-new adventure that has danger — and laughter! — around every corner.
The original cast (for the world premiere at the Cleveland Play House) is:
- Christian Pedersen as Sherlock Holmes
- Nick Gaswirth as Dr. John Watson
- Olivia Gilliatt as Irene Adler, Mrs. Hudson, and Cartwright
- Jeff Bender as Professor Moriarty, Mycroft Holmes, Inspector Lestrade, King Otto, and others
- Tally Gale as Daisy, Mrs. Barabas, Hilda, and others (including the puppeteer for Toby)
This Play Provides Examples of:
- Action Girl: Irene Adler, as she often is in modern adaptations.
- Annoying Younger Sibling: Sherlock is certainly this to Mycroft. By contrast, Mycroft himself isn't shown to treat his little brother poorly, just with exasperation.
- At the Opera Tonight: This is where Holmes first sees Irene.
- The Big Damn Kiss: How the play ends.
- Blinded by Rage: Moriarty is holding a loaded gun, and Irene still tries to charge him.
- Brainy Brunette: Irene.
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: Of course, Watson regularly talks to the audience — but there is a moment when one of the actors breaks character to respond to one of his comments.
- Broken Pedestal: Holmes as a college student was tight with his beloved professor... and then he found a damning letter in the man's own handwriting.
- Celibate Eccentric Genius: Holmes, of course, although that doesn't quite... stick...
- Creator Thumbprint: Played with. The humor you expect from a Ken Ludwig play is there, but it's also a darker story than his previous Sherlock Holmes play Baskerville.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Moriarty claims that he is "a very just man."
- Faux Affably Evil: "Now any last words, Sherlock? If you tell me now, I’ll have them engraved on your tombstone."
- Friend on the Force: Inspector Lestrade, despite his initial entrance. He provides the muscle to go after Moriarty's men.
- Gentleman Snarker: Holmes, per usual.
- Heroic BSoD: Holmes's condition after both Irene and Moriarty go over the falls. Watson finds him huddled on the ground.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: The play doesn't focus so much on the relationship between Holmes and Watson, but it gets in some sweet moments, nonetheless.
- I Have Your Wife: A captured Mook of Moriarty's says he'll kill his family if he tells on his boss.
- It's All My Fault: Holmes blames himself for "letting" Moriarty disappear a first time, years ago. Whether or not his evidence would have been enough to convince the police to arrest the professor, however, is anyone's guess.
- Holmes blames himself just as keenly for the murder of Otto, leading Irene to try to talk some sense into him.
- It's Personal: Irene's motivation for going after Moriarty. His men murdered her sister.
- Love at First Sight: Watson claims that Holmes was "smitten" with Irene from the moment he first saw her.
- Mythology Gag: Part of the plot is derived from the William Gillette play Sherlock Holmes: The Strange Case of Miss Alice Faulkner.
- Long past that part of the plot, however, there's one more nod to the play, in the subterranean scuffle with Moriarty — Holmes removes the bullets from Moriarty's revolver.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Arguably, Moriarty's downfall starts with the murder of Irene's sister. The death gets her involved, and her scheme to get to him entangles Holmes, and once he's involved, it's off to the races.
- Not So Stoic: Holmes throws his composure entirely out the window when Irene puts herself seriously in harm's way...
- Obviously Evil: "You say I’m evil. But evil wins in the end! It cannot be stopped!"
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: "[Mycroft] hasn’t left the Diogenes Club in two years. A planet might as well leave its orbit."
- Power Trio: Holmes (Superego), Watson (Ego), and Irene (Id).
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Irene is the red to Holmes's blue.
- Refuge in Audacity: Irene is an actress... and pulls one over on the Napoleon of Crime in the boldest way possible.
- Sherlock Scan: Naturally. Mycroft gets in a good one, too.
- Shipper on Deck: Watson is initially jealous of Holmes "forging a new alliance," but he already knows that his best friend has had a crush since they saw Irene at the opera.
- Shout-Out: The last name Holmes reads on a list of Moriarty's henchmen is the name of a real-life Sherlockian.
- Suddenly Shouting: "Well done, Mr. Holmes. Another step and I would have had to shoot her right here on the spot. AND I WOULD HAVE DONE IT!"
- Surprisingly Happy Ending: We don't know how Irene survived that, but Holmes isn't really going to argue with her!
- Unwanted Rescue: "I had her eating out of my hand!"
- Victoria's Secret Compartment: Where Irene hides her letters. Twice.
- Villainous Breakdown: "You had no right to interfere in my business! It is MY BUSINESS!"
- Wholesome Crossdresser: Irene is wearing a suit for at least half the play. Mycroft does not appear to be fazed in the least.
- Worthy Opponent: Averted, for once — unlike many other iterations of the character, this Moriarty does not see Holmes as his equal.
- Would You Like to Hear How They Died?: A variation on this, with Moriarty clearly baiting Irene. See Blinded by Rage.
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: How Irene was attempting to get to Moriarty, by appearing to be a helpless girl held hostage by one of the professor's employees.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Played straight and subverted.
