Super-sleuth Sherlock Holmes is the master of the “a-ha!” moment, and Sherlock Holmes: The Case of Alice Faulkner currently on stage at Wheat Ridge Theatre Company is bursting with such insightful moments.
Written by the Holmes creator himself, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle along with William Gilette, and superlatively directed by Maru Garcia, the production delivers a steady stream of internal lightbulbs going off as Holmes unravels yet another case — this time surrounding a packet of letters belonging to Alice Faulkner (Jaccie Kitts). The play is filled with all the familiar characters, starting with Holmes (Jeamus Wilkes) and Dr. Watson (Jim Hayes) right through to his evil adversary, Professor Moriarty (Jaime Lewis).
In this story, Holmes has been summoned to retrieve a series of compromising letters currently in the possession of Faulkner. As the play opens, Faulkner is being held against her will by a pair of con artists, James Larrabee (Dan Marquardt) and his wife, Madge (Erin M. Banta). They enlist the aid of a safecracker, Sid Prince (Jason Rexx) to recover the letters — only to find the safe completely empty!
Professor Moriarty also has his eye on Faulkner and the letters, although he is pursuing both for much more dastardly purposes. Moriarity and his henchmen kidnap Faulkner and coerce her into revealing where the letters can be found. Holmes comes to the rescue of Faulkner and using a series of manipulations with both real and counterfeit letters manages to retrieve them and return them to their rightful owner. The curtain falls as Holmes professes his love for Faulkner with all appearances of living happily ever after.
Wilkes is masterfully understated as Sherlock Holmes. Rarely seeming to rise above a low simmer, Wilkes is wonderfully matter-of-fact when sharing a piece of evidence that has eluded both the characters on stage and most of the audience, thus creating plenty of those grin-worthy “a-ha” moments. Having returned to the stage after a 15-year absence, Wilkes reemerges as a welcome addition to the Denver theatre scene.
In the role of Moriarty, Lewis is about as slimy as one can get. He is the epitome of evil and provides a delicious portrayal of the wicked professor. In the roles of Larabee and wife Madge, both Marquardt and Banta are experts of impersonation in their pursuit of the letters. Kitts displays an inner strength throughout as the much-pursued Faulkner.
There is real passion in Garcia’s direction of the play. The performances are solid, and the action builds from scene to scene. Having seen several productions at Wheat Ridge Theater Company, I have come to appreciate the unique staging requirements of the three-sided acting space. It is true when they say there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
Wheat Ridge Theatre Company is a strong entry into the local theatrical community continuing to shine with a variety of productions worthy of our attention. Sherlock Holmes: The Case of Alice Faulkner is a first-rate production that is both entertaining and filled with moments that leave audience members on the edge of their seats. It is perfect for a summer afternoon or evening in the theatre.
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