During the corona virus pandemic, when theatres around the world were closed, the Capitol Hill-based theatre troupe, We Happy Few, hit upon a unique idea: to present audio versions of classic mysteries and Gothic horror tales and also mail artifacts from the fictional events to the subscribers. Listeners were provided with props such as crimson candles and masks from “The Masque of the Red Death” as well as clues, newspapers in period style, teas, and similar items for stories of Victorian detectives Sherlock Holmes and Loveday Brooke. While the pandemic has now abated, the audio-and-prop arm of We Happy Few has evolved into the separate Literary Adventure Society, a group whose mission is to continue producing audio dramas with mailed props to provide audiences with tactile, as well as audio, experiences of their productions.
For the most part, the production is loyal to the dialogue of the classic text, but it does take some welcome risks.
We recently had the opportunity to enjoy the Literary Adventure Society’s production of the Sherlock Holmes mystery “A Scandal in Bohemia.” Adapted for audio by Kerry McGee, the story is very notable for being Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s first Sherlock Holmes short story.
The audio production begins as the great detective Sherlock Holmes receives a client who turns out to be the King of Bohemia, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein. The king is about to marry and he asks Holmes to retrieve a photo and letters of the King which he had, in his earlier days, given to one Miss Irene Adler, an actress with whom he had once had an indiscreet relationship. The king is concerned that the items could be used to blackmail him, an event which could impact the future of Europe in a deleterious way.
Holmes, a master of disguise, chooses to pose as a clergyman and contrives to run into Miss Adler’s carriage, causing her to take him in and provide a means for him to search for the damning items. Holmes is assisted in this by his companion, Dr. Watson. Will their plan succeed? The Literary Adventure Society provides not merely an audio play, but also a package containing clues and pieces of evidence to render this into a party game, a bit like “Clue” or “Cluedo,” as one would say in the country of Sherlock Holmes.
The audio production itself is excellent and Jon Reynolds makes a superb Holmes. He is also effective at conveying when Holmes is in disguise, pretending to be different people and using varying British accents, allowing the listener to visualize these characters in the mind’s eye. Dylan Fleming is also a wonderful Dr. Watson, capturing the character’s limited ability at “deductive reasoning” compared to Holmes. We hear in his voice a convincing moment of change in character as he confidently employs Holmes’ own methods of such reasoning with some success. Using the methods and winning praise from his mentor, Raven Bonniwell’s voice for Holmes’ American nemesis, Miss Adler, is done exceptionally well. We can visualize her expressions during the events, such as when she suspects the supposed clergyman might not be what he seems. Similarly, the direction of Kierman McGowan is impeccable.
For the most part, the production is loyal to the dialogue of the classic text, but it does take some welcome risks. For example, the king is described as Bohemian, referring to his nationality. Miss Adler, on the other hand, is described as Bohemian for her unconventional lifestyle and her career as an actress. This second definition of Bohemian does not occur in the original story.
Additionally, when Holmes and Adler meet in the original tale, it is in disguise and she only communicates directly via a letter. Here, the two have a more direct meeting, which is very engaging for the listener and adds to the human interest of the story. This approach also allows each character to convey, directly, the mutual admiration for each other’s intelligence.
Noteworthy not only as the first Sherlock Holmes short story written, the tale also introduces Miss Adler, regarded as one of Holmes’ few worthy opponents. Holmes’ lecturer and mathematician, Dr. S. Brent Morris, informs us that “‘A Scandal in Bohemia’ is wildly popular among ‘scion societies’ [chapters] of the Baker Street Irregulars,” perhaps the oldest of the Sherlock Holmes literary societies. He notes that these chapters usually have a toast in honor of Miss Adler during their meetings due to the detective’s respect for her.
As noted, this audio production includes a box of clues and other items to create a charming tactile experience. This reviewer was particularly impressed with an issue of a faux periodical from the Victorian era in which the story is set, as it reports on details of the story in the manner of journalism.
The audio drama set is suitable for both those new to the story as well as long-time Sherlock Holmes fans. The price for the audio drama/clue set is $55. For more information, please contact the Literary Adventure Society.
