The Falls and Rise of Sherlock Holmes

DIRECTOR'S NOTE could have expected. Hate mail poured in. Readers begged him to reconsider. “Keep Holmes Alive” campaigns The Falls thrived as fi ctional obituaries were written in newspapers across the globe. The and Rise of Strand barely survived the outrage, with 20,000 readers canceling Sherlock their subscriptions. It is said the young men in the City Holmes wore black armbands to mourn BY Mark Shanahan the detective. But Doyle held Sherlock Holmes had been fast, assuming murdered, and there was no the outrage question as to whodunnit. The would subside. “He culprit was none other than Sir lies at the foot of Arthur Conan Doyle himself. Reichenbach Falls," he maintained. “And By 1893, the author had grown so there he shall stay.” The weary of his literary creation’s fame author had moved on from that he decided to rid himself of 221B Baker Street and he Sherlock Holmes once and for all expected his readership to, and focus on more high-minded as well. There would be no writing projects. more Holmes or Moriarty, no "He takes my mind from better things,” more Inspector Lestrade or Doyle complained to his mother. Mrs. Hudson. And, of course, And so, the author concocted without Holmes, there would be “The Final Problem,” published in no more John Watson. the December issue of the Strand Magazine. Within that short story, In many ways, readers were as Doyle sent Sherlock Holmes and much achingly deprived of Watson his nemesis Professor Moriarty as of Holmes. As the other half hurtling over the Reichenbach Falls, of literature’s most famous duo, plunging both to certain doom. Dr. John H. Watson had always “Killed Sherlock Holmes,” Doyle noted been a perfect surrogate for the in his diary without fanfare. However, reader. Nearly all of Doyle’s Holmes the public reaction to Sherlock’s adventures were told from Watson’s demise was unlike anything Doyle point of view. Stalwart, loyal and fearless, Watson brought a humanity 18 PLAYBILL to the Holmes tales which o[ set the luminous," Holmes once remarked. detective’s cold reliance on facts. “But you are a conductor of light.” In Holmes himself knew the value of other words, “I couldn’t do it without their friendship, once exclaiming, you, old buddy.” “Good old Watson! You are the one When Doyle sent Holmes over fi xed point in a changing age!” the Reichenbach Falls, Watson was as heartbroken as any fan. He eulogized his friend as “the best and the wisest man whom I have ever known.” It had seemed that the duo’s adventures had come to an abrupt end. But if only the good doctor had learned to be a little more observant, he may have deduced that the case was not quite closed just yet. A_ er all, no body had ever been found. Had Conan Doyle given himself a convenient out with Holmes' “o[ stage death?" Try as he might, Doyle could not shake the fans’ determination for more Holmes stories. In 1902, he revisited the character in T he Hound Of The Baskervilles , set in a time before the character’s death. But eventually (and with the o[ er of a great deal of money from his publisher), Doyle relented. “Very well,” he scribbled on a postcard to his agent. And just like that, Holmes The partnership was a perfect returned to life in 1903’s “The study in contrasts. Whereas Adventure Of the Empty House.” Holmes was calculating and exact, Readership was thrilled. So was Watson could o_ en be romantic Watson, who was so astonished that and headstrong. Though he may he fainted when he fi rst saw Holmes not have possessed Holmes’ genius back from the grave. for observation and deduction, Watson routinely marveled at Doyle revealed, somewhat Holmes astounding abilities with improbably and with no apology, admiration. Holmes recognized that Holmes had faked his death Watson’s talents in return. “It and had spent several years may be that you are not yourself traveling the world incognito, fi ghting Moriarty’s gang. But now continued Alley Theatre 19 Photo by Lynn Lane he was back home in London, back Consulting Detective.”Je[ rey at Baker Street, and once more Hatcher's wonderful new o[ ering, Watson was at his side. Holmes and Watson , examines the heart of this enduring friendship Holmes had defeated death at the during those years Holmes went hands of his own creator. In a real missing following his “death.” sense, this victory proved he could Was there more to Holmes’ survive any challenge. Adapted in disappearance than even Doyle every conceivable medium and was willing to divulge? Hatcher with no end in sight, the detective begs us to consider just how far the has, much to his originator’s chagrin, famous duo might go for each other arguably become the most famous and how well anyone, even the character in literature. Holmes' closest of allies, can ever truly know adventures continued for the rest of one another. Doyle’s writing career and onwards, through the many further iterations One thing is for certain, though. The and adaptations the character has deep friendship Doyle invented over undergone in print, on screen and a hundred and thirty years ago is on stage. as strong as ever. And there is no mystery as to whether it will endure. Happily, Holmes has long been a For fans of Holmes and Watson, recurring fi xture at the Alley Theatre. it’s elementary. Audiences have come to expect a grand adventure from any play featuring “The World’s Foremost 20 PLAYBILL.

Load more