Collaborative Theatre Project stages stunning new Sherlock Holmes caper

By golly, Mr. Sherlock Holmes is at it again, and we’re all the better for it. There’s a fine production of  “Moriarty” (Homes’ former professor and nemesis) now playing at the Collaborative Theatre Project. Oh, what fun you’re going to have watching Holmes and Watson following clues and putting you through their paces.

Playwright Ken Ludwig has an understanding and refreshing take on Holmes that few others have had. His capers with the inimitable detective combine Holmes’ penchant for deductive reasoning and Watson’s penchant for narration, with frivolity and humor — a formula which seems to work every time. This was definitely the case when the CTP ensemble presented Ludwig’s “Murder on the Orient Express” last year.

As the series of plots unfolds, Holmes is approached to track down a Bohemian king’s stolen love letters, which the king fears will be discovered by his wife. What we later find is that these love letters contain a lot more than the romantic overtures the King once poured out to his American lover, Irene Adler, whose sister has been murdered by the sinister Moriarty. To add to the tension, Moriarty is now in  possession of the letters. 

What results is a multi-layered, upside-down cake of attempted blackmail, murder and international intrigue, with Holmes hot on the trail of Moriarty, (cleverly played by Sean Warren) who is leaving corpses in his wake.

Jason Esquerra is the consummate Holmes. With slicked back hair, and an air of civility, he slips with ease into this role like one of Holmes’ silk robes. He’s smooth, self-assured and dashing. He adds just the right amount of sophistication and restraint, as he is pulled along like a magnet from one clue to another. 

Janeen McGinnis becomes one of several characters, adding new meaning to the phrase, “she was all over the place.” The nice thing is you can distinguish between her and all the characters she plays.

Nick Walker as Dr. Watson also adds just the right amount of nuance his character calls for. His narration saves us, because without it, this series of cascading incidents (which appropriately end at some falls), would be too difficult to sort out. This reviewer has always felt if there is one flaw in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s murderous escapades, it’s his accumulation of characters. A plot device to throw you off the scent and can sometimes be a waste of your time. Thanks to Russell Lloyd, veteran theater actor and director of this production, we are steered right with his direction.

There are enough characters in this to last through several mysteries. Remarkably, six actors play up to 40 parts. Thanks to great timing and defined roles, you don’t come away feeling as though you have just spent time with people with untreated dissociative identity disorder.

Congratulations to the following cast members who pulled off multiple personalities — Sean Warren as Moriarty, Tegan Kelley and Andrew Chvatal. 

The production values for “Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure” are top notch this time with puppetry that elicits laughs, excellent sound and lighting by Ryan Kelley and detailed period costumes by Susan Aversa.

In conclusion, dear Watson, I’d say this is one for the books.

Performances of “Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure” are set for 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 1:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, March 20-April 13. Tickets are $40, $35 for seniors and students. Collaborative Theatre Project is located at 555 Medford Center, Medford. Tickets and information are available at ctpmedford.org or by calling the box office at 541-779-1055. Group rates are available.

Reach Ashland-based writer Lucie K. Scheuer at LucieScheuer19@gmail.com.