JHS Drama will present its fall play at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 18-19, in the JHS Theater.
"Miss Holmes" by Christopher M. Walsh is a new spin on the classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle detective Sherlock Holmes. In Walsh's new mystery, Holmes and the ever-present sidekick Watson are reimagined as women. While keeping the setting in Victorian England, Walsh's play deals with the challenges two such women would face chasing the truth in that time.
Holmes and Watson are contacted by Elizabeth Chapman to investigate an anonymous letter about her husband's connection to the mysterious death of his previous wife. Pursuit of the letter's writer leads them through London questioning various characters, taking advantage of being underestimated, into dangerous situations, and through several twists and turns.
Twenty-five actors and nine more students as crew have been working together to develop an exciting mystery for the JHS audience, said Tony McIntyre, JHS Drama director. They've been developing characters that in some cases are familiar to Holmes fans and many that are brand new to this story.
"It's been an exciting new challenge to work with characters our audience may be familiar with and tell a compelling new story with them," McIntyre said.
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This is JHS Drama's first performance since being named the NDHSAA Class A One-Act Play Competition Champions in April 2021. McIntyre said JHS Drama is excited to be performing for its home audience again and also to welcome JHS Drama assistant director Amanda Arvay into the program.
Tickets for the production are $6 for adults and $4 for students. The JHS activity pass is also accepted. This drama does include two simulated gunshots throughout the performance. "Miss Holmes" is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois.
