Admirable Folk Heroes
Detectives, private investigators and amateur sleuths have always had a seat at the folk hero table. A folk hero is someone, real or fictional, whose deeds – and quirky personality traits – have a special place in society’s psyche. Many of them have appeared in folk songs, folk tales and other folk lore forms, including plays and movies.
We hold them in high esteem. We do so because they possess keen observation skills, an ability to think on their feet, and to come up with out of the box solutions to problems that would, by most people’s standards, be unsolvable.
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The more noted ones have included France’s Inspector Maigret, India the conscientious Inspector Ghote in India, Russia’s Inspector Renko, and China the inscrutable Charlie Chan.
The Most Celebrated Sleuth
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Perhaps the most famous one of all is Sherlock Holmes. This Victorian character created by Scotland’s Arthur Conan Doyle has a side-kick – Dr. Watson - who is a lovable amateur sleuth. Together they have solved countless cases that not only free the innocently accused but restore honor to crestfallen families and communities devastated by crime. They are beloved because they made sure justice was served and that the guilty were held accountable.
In short, they helped keep ‘us’ safe. Definitely serious work. Even so, there were light hearted moments that endured these heroic sleuths to us.
Sherlock Holmes in Sonoma County?
A perfect example of this is Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. This comedy is written by Ken Ludwig and will be performed at Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park September 16- October 9. Directed by David L. Yen, it features Steve Cannon as Sherlock Holmes; Christopher Schloemp as Dr. Watson; and Zane Walters, Kim Williams and Larry Williams double as variety of characters.
The play is based upon one of Holmes’ most famous cases – The Hounds of Baskerville. Set in the moors of Devonshire it offers a clever fast-paced look at the ‘adventurous life’ of sleuths at work.
Family curses, foggy moors, howling hounds, and the dizzying web of clues and deceit performed by only five actors who play 40 parts keep the intrepid duo more than madcap busy.
Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery received its world premiere as a co-production between Arena Stage in Washington DC and the McCarter Theatre in New Jersey in 2015 and is quickly making its way across the country.
You want to be sure to catch it while you can.
Details:
8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; and 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Spreckels Performing Arts Center, Bette Condiotti Theater, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
$16 to $26 ($16 children 12 & under; $22 students; $24 seniors/youth; $26 general. Student Rush (with student ID) 10 minutes before curtain $12.)
Call 707-588-3400 or visit www.spreckelsonline.org
Photo: Steve Cannon portrays detective Sherlock Holmes in Spreckels Theatre Company's presentation of Ken Ludwig's mystery-comedy Baskerville, A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. Photo by Eric Chazankin
