The phrase "you should have seen just what I heard" has a paradoxical ring to it, but in truth it's elementary, dear theatre fans, elementary.
When a radio play is staged for the eye more so than the ear, this concept comes to life, as it will tonight and Thursday at CNC when Pocket Theatre performs a Sherlock Holmes story for Christmas. It has the pretext of a radio play, but it is also scripted as a play for a live theatre audience.
It will indeed be broadcast on local radio, and it will indeed be open for live viewing at 7 p.m. in the Stan Shaffer Theatre (Room 1-306) at the college.
"We wanted to do something we hadn't tried before so we chose a radio play because it seemed fun," said Pocket Theatre's co-founder Allison Haley. "(Community radio station) CFIS and (UNBC radio station) CFUR were kind enough to offer to record and broadcast it. We hope to form a radio troupe and produce more in future."
They are starting with some quirk and some chic. Where else would you ever see Sherlock Holmes and The Night Before Christmas come together for some seasonal golden-age drama?
"We wanted a Christmas play due to our production timing so Johnell (McClelland, Pocket Theatre's sound effects technician working the Foley Table for this production), hunted through radio scripts and came up with this 1945 Sherlock episode - part of their old-time regular broadcasts. It was originally performed by Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce."
Some well-known names in theatre and broadcasting will hold down the lead roles in this production as well.
Holmes will be portrayed by Gary Chappell (Scrooge in Judy Russell's production of A Christmas Carol; also Les Miserables, Brigadoon, Sea Horse, etc.) while Dr. Watson will be portrayed by 101.3 The River on-air personality Jennifer Schlueter.
"Our audience will get to see 'behind the scenes' of a radio play: the actors, the live sound effects but also will be part of the rebroadcasts as they are the studio audience," said Haley.
The cast will also include Frank Caffrey, Andrea Mallett, Mark Wheeler, Tina Burridge, Corina Van Caeseele, Sophie Cot, and Peter Maides in multiple roles and accents.
"We also wanted to open up more roles for people who had expressed interest in community theatre," said Haley.
"We have also adjusted the script to support our new local winery, Northern Lights Estate Winery."
The live recording of the Christmas mystery will have some special musical accompaniment, as well.
Singing sisters Darlene Shatford and Lynne Brown will be doing a vocal set.
The entire schedule aims to fit between 7-8 p.m. Both CFIS and CFUR will broadcast the recording later in the holiday season.
And since it is a Christmas event, it is also one to help those less fortunate.
Admission is by donation, with the proceeds going to the Native Friendship Centre's food bank.
The play is also a collection point for bringing nonperishable food items, mitts, socks, scarves, toques, toiletries, unwrapped new toys for gift hampers, etc.
