A mysterious murder presented in the round is the latest offering from the EclecticPond Theatre Company. Sherlock Holmes is back in The Speckled Band in Irvington. With a limited set and six-person cast, the show builds suspense quickly with a locked-room murder and a dangerous villain.
Kelly Gualdoni is particularly good
as Enid Stonor, a strong young woman willing to stand her ground even after her
twin sister is murdered. She plays Enid as intelligent even in the midst of her
fear. Her menacing uncle, played by Dan Flahive, controls her every move and most
days he can barely keep his temper in check.
Bradford Reilly plays the infamous
Sherlock Holmes. He struggled with his lines at times, but he’s well suited for
the role. He embraced the presumptive air of the brilliant detective and never
slowed down to let his well-meaning sidekick catch up with his thought process.
Ryan Maloney makes a very young Dr. Watson, but was a calm balance to Holmes’
impatience.
Occasionally
theatre companies present Sherlock and forget a key ingredient, a sense of
humor. EclecticPond’s production does an excellent job combining suspense and
humor in the show. The cast embraces the slapstick elements as a revolving door
of characters make their way through each scene. Matt
Anderson and Pat Mullen took on half a dozen roles throughout the show. By
tossing on a wig or turban, the two actors fleshed out the supporting cast all
by themselves.
In addition to the final performances of The Speckled Band,
EclecticPond is hosting a birthday celebration for the Bard on Saturday, April
25. They will be announcing their new season at the party. Still to come this
year is Anton
Chekov’s “The Cherry Orchard” in June.
Don’t miss the show
Performances run until April 25. Tickets are $19. Performances
are held at the Irvington
United Methodist Church, 30 North Audubon Road, Indianapolis, IN 46219. For more information, a complete schedule of the shows or
to purchase tickets, visit ETC’s site here.
Photos
Courtesy of the EclecticPond Theatre Company
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