Baker Street is being laid out right in Fort St. John, and all of the mystery, humour and intrigue you would expect to find there are coming along too – and, maybe, a few twists you didn’t expect.
The Stage North Theatre Society is presenting “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily,” J.P. Wood’s directorial debut, at the North Peace Cultural Centre on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 6, 7 and 8.
Adapted by Katie Forgette from the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, it has a flavour that those familiar with Sherlock will recognize, but Wood has added some flair of his own, he said.
“I’ve definitely brought a steampunk aspect to it,” Wood told the Alaska Highway News. “That was never mentioned in the script, but it’s something that really suits Holmes, because he’s always been a man of science. Back in Victorian England, steampunk was science – it was the sci-fi of the Victorian era.”
The play also incorporates historical facts and characters into the play, immersing Sherlock into a broader Victorian world, instead of just creating an aesthetic. But Wood said that the focus on reality doesn’t detract from the humorous tone.
“It’s lighthearted,” he said. “Not so much the dramatic, serious Holmes – it’s more the lighthearted, zany, sort of showy Holmes.”
Wood has been acting since he was 15, and a member of Stage North for a decade, but this is his first foray into directing.
“It’s a lot of work, a lot more than I expected, but it’s been a fun challenge,” he said. “I look forward to doing it again.”
Those who attend on opening night and are dressed in costume (it’s Halloween) will be entered to win Series 1 of BBC’s “Sherlock” on DVD. Tickets can be purchased at the Cultural Centre or online at tickets.npcc.bc.ca.
peacereporter@ahnfsj.ca
