The university is doing something elementary.
The UNBC Drama Club (not to be confused with UNBC Musical Productions and their current production of The Addams Family) applied theatrical logic and dramatic deduction to the great stories they could tell, and arrived at an unassailable conclusion and 221-B Baker Street. It was the address of Sherlock Holmes. But of course.
This was a Sherlock Holmes tale unlike the others, and unique to the stage. It was not written by the great Holmes scribe Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, it was penned by modern playwright Katie Forgette and one of the characters is Oscar Wilde for some additional theatrical spice. There is a bit of Wilde, a bit of the old Sherlock spirit and a new tale of comedic adventure in Sherlock Holmes & The Case Of The Jersey Lily.
"This play is a mystery/comedy, not a comedy/mystery. It is not a send-up, or parody, or spoof. Real stakes. Real danger," said Forgette in her author's note. UNBC Drama Club director Isaiah Berra said it was a perfect fit for their troupe.
"We looked for a play that would not only be appropriate for children, but enjoyable for adults as well. This play is the true 'family friendly' event because it will entertain all ages," said Berra.
A cast was assembled through an open audition process. A number of aspiring actors came to try out on a general basis, with Berra and the production crew deciding after the auditions which actors would fit best with which characters. Although the club is based at UNBC and funded as any university club is, it is open to non-university members of the community as well.
In the end Rachel Klassen, Caleb Sample and Krystal Vandenberg were assigned to the lead roles, with many other drama club members filling the support roles.
"This is my first time having full creative control over a theatre production. Usually, I am yelling at people from behind a camera. Just kidding," said Berra, who is nearing completion of his UNBC studies with hopes of entering the UBC Film Studies program, learning the skills of that different but related form of theatre arts. He had little previous contact with the stage form of the craft.
"I approached the production with an open mind because I didn't know what to expect," he admitted. "What I found that is with independent filmmaking, if we have a scene scheduled for Tuesday then that scene is filmed on Tuesday. If I don't know what I want from the start then I won't get the result I want, and then due to budget and time restrictions it will be unlikely I get a re-shoot.
"With this play, if we tried something on Tuesday rehearsal that didn't work, then we could fix it on Saturday when we rehearse it again.
"In film, you are always looking for something good in the first take and something good in the second take so that when you edit in post-production you can put them together.
"In theatre, you are striving for the perfect take because you don't get to edit anything out because it is live. Theatre is a far more stressful process in that regard."
This play is set in the early 1900s and follows the typical tempo of action and contemplative dialogue found in most Sherlock Holmes stories, but Berra urges audiences to get ready for something new, nonetheless, and ultimately entertaining.
Sherlock Holmes & The Case Of The Jersey Lily will be staged on March 31 and April 2 at 7 p.m. and there is also a matinee on April 2 at 2 p.m. The performances happen at UNBC's Canfor Theatre. Tickets are available at the UNBC Bookstore or at the door for a minimum $5 donation.
