Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily – REVIEW
Image: Nathan Moss, Meg Girdler, Molly Haddon in Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily by Genesian Theatre Co. Image Craig O'Regan
A Genesian Theatre season wouldn’t be complete without a Sherlock Holmes or two, and their current production is up there with the best of them. Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily is a tale of genuine intrigue and tension, performed with the signature theatricality of this delightful independent company.
Not one of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories, but a play written in 2008 by Katie Forgette, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily uses Doyle’s familiar characters and tropes. Forgette takes real life events that occurred at around the time that the fictional Holmes would have been active, and cleverly combines them in a plausible scenario.
The Jersey Lily is a nickname given to famous (and infamous) British actress and socialite, Lillie Langtry. Langtry was renowned for her exceptional beauty. She was one of the earliest celebrities to appear in advertising posters, becoming the poster-girl for Pear’s Soap, among other products. She was also frequently the subject of tabloid gossip and back-of-the-hand whispers, much of it regarding her romantic antics.
Oscar Wilde, of course, was Oscar Wilde – witty, insightful, acerbic playwright, poet, essayist, early meme-generator, and close friend of Langty.
The plot of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily is based on an actual scandal involving the illicit relationship between Langtry and the Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII). Forgette has woven in manufactured element – an attempt to blackmail Langtry regarding a jewelled necklace gifted to her by the Prince. This is how she brings Holmes into the scenario.
It is well paced, intelligently written with lots of laughs and even a bit of melancholy. Once again, the folk at Genesian have made a remarkable effort with the set, props and costumes.
Neilson Brown is charming as Sherlock Holmes – it’s worth the price of the ticket to see him in drag!. Carlin Hurdis is endearing as Dr Watson, hopelessly fawning over Langtry, who is played with coquettish demure by Molly Haddon. Nathan Moss is a pompous, precious Oscar Wilde.
Igor Bulanov plays Holmes’ arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty with controlled wickedness, never spilling over into cliche. Liam O’Carroll, on the other hand, is over-the-top – but aptly so – as the hapless young villain, John Smyth, while Meg Girdler brings classic brilliance with shifting accents and manner as she continuously deceives the other characters and the audience.
Gunjeet Singh Chattha plays the role of King’s envoy, Abdul Karim and John Grinston is the director of this very entertaining mystery-comedy-thriller-almost romance.
