Moriarty
Directed by Robyn Mead
Running Time: 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission
Accessible Seating: Available, call or email ahead of time
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Volume Level: Comfortable volume level
Noises/Visuals to Prepare For: gunshots, sword swinging, screaming, and adult language
Reviewed by Teri Lynn Williams
Ken Ludwig and Sherlock Holmes are recognizable names on their own and should you pair together, you evoke wonder and curiosity… cue the entrance of the play, Moriarty. Ludwig chooses to base the action of his show on Sherlock Holmes and Watson pursuing a hunt for his number one nemesis. Moriarty is cunning and clever and finds immense pleasure in baiting Sherlock, taking him on adventures riddled with intellectual and physical ordeals.
Allen Contemporary Theatre’s production of Moriarty immerses the audience into the long-standing game between Sherlock and Moriarty. Director Robyn Mead cleverly uses a large screen set upstage to create moving trains, hidden rooms, and many locations to move the story forward. Along with the visual and audible talented set, lighting and sound team of Melinda and Greg Cotton, we can feel as if we ourselves are also on the moving train or standing near a waterfall edge.
Mead assembled a skillful cast of five to portray characters of many. And, oh boy, are we taken on a ride of characters…
Guiding the action is the duo of Holmes and Watson. Alex Bigus as Holmes is charming with a side of snide, all while appearing looking adorably as if a four-year-old was allowed to dress himself for the day. Talented costume designer Shanna Threlkeld must have had a heyday creating the many fabric layers.
Watson, played with stoic sophistication by Blake Rice narrates our entire journey. Rice has a soothing cadence to his speech making the often wordy narrations pleasant to the ear. Bigus and Rice have a high-quality synergy as the duo, making them pleasurable to watch.
Moriarty wouldn’t be complete without a clever acting Moriarty, and luckily, we get that in spades with the charismatic energy brought by Beau Dameron. And also, luckily for us as an audience, we get to see Mr. Dameron portray multiple characters with deft abilities.
Alas, with all good stories, we need strong female characters to balance out the lingering male energy. Irene Adler is witty and a force of nature and you could not have cast this better than the remarkable character actor Laura Jennings. Jennings also portrays Mrs. Hudson and Cartwright. Jennings fully embodies each character from head to toe with distinguishable accents and deliberate physical choices, an absolute fascination of character talent. Scattered throughout the entire show we are very privileged to see the talents of Charlotte Dameron. Not a moment is she on stage that we are not drawn to her. Ms. Dameron has a herculean task of playing multiple characters (one which has four paws) and she glides through each scene with full commitment and boldness. Once again, the talents of Threlkeld are visible with each changing character. One can only imagine the swift aptitude needed of the Dresser, Alisha Fowler Borton, backstage keeping all the costumes and timings in line. (Awe is an appropriate word!)
If you enjoy cozying up to the familiarity of Holmes and Watson, you won’t want to miss this cascade of talent taking you with them on their adventure. Come for the mystery and find yourself laughing at the clever prop gags and darling characters.
To The Stage,
Teri Lynn Williams
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