Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes was a play of mystery, comedy and love. It was presented at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. The plot of the play is based on Sherlock Holmes himself solving a mystery case, at the same time the play gives much insight on Holmes as a person and all the changes that come about in his thoughts and other people's thoughts through out the plot. The story builds on as it progresses from the beginning to the end, keeping the same intense suspense rising. The play can be looked at many different perspectives and there are many elements needed to be considered making and watching the play. One of these elements is the scenic design. The set was put together magnificently to portray the time and setting of the play.

When you entered the theatre you saw the stage and the set was of a living room in Holmes's house. There were many details that were looked in order to put this set together. Firstly, the position and proportions of all items was really we thought out. The book case was in a place where you could see it, yet it also added to the essence of the room . The location of the chairs and coffee table was well centered to the fireplace. place. The window was also located in the right area next to the fireplace. The record player was the main focus at the beginning of the play and it was located parallel to the window with the curtain closed. The file case was a bit out of the proportions, as it could have been more next the bookcase, but it seemed to fit in the set pretty well considering it was needed in the living room. Secondly, the items used reflected the time period of the play. For example, the really antique, vintage looking chairs and coffee table. The lamps and the curtains also added to the setting vibrantly. The bookshelf was very important, as I thought it was one of the main pieces of focus including the chairs and the record player. Next, the minor items that said a lot throughout the play were used in an appropriate manner and setting. For example, the books and diary that Holmes used. I felt that it was the perfect size, with the perfect color and texture. Also, the beaker he used for mixing on the bookshelf said a great a lot. In addition, the scenic design of the walls, the waterfall, and the curtains was put together perfectly in order to blend in with the plot. The walls, at the beginning of the play portray the house of brick and you could see how the house was actually set with all the furniture in proper places and the windows in perfect location.

What I thought was interesting, was how none of the costumes or the colors of the costume reflected back and took the attention away from the set. The set and the costumes of the actors were worked out cordially. For example, when he's wearing the golden sheer robe, it blends in perfect with the antique looking furniture, yet it pops out as well, so you don't focus you're attention on one thing, but you see it a whole. The ladies costumes were well put together as well. When the actress first came out at the top, the green dress and the light reflected of it, guiding the audience's attention towards the top and the white smoke and the lights added more to the atmosphere. The set changes were also worked out in order for the convenience of the actors and the audience. When the set changes, the texture and the atmosphere as well as the mood of the play changed drastically. You could feel the tension building and the set changes pointed out to the climax as the tension was building on. The door that was in the second half of the play, was a in a perfect place. It was easier for the audience to see and easier for the actors to go and come about. My favorite part of the scenic design was the waterfall. I didn't think that was possible to show in a theatre setting, but it looked very real and in perfect place for the climax of the play. The set at the top was put together to side the staircase for the actors behind the rocks and it also served as the ground floor as the actors were introduced throughout the play. For example, when the professor was introduced, it was perfect because the professor was dressed in black and the background was black which signified what kind of person he was with the dark colors, but then you see a rose in his hand and the little touch of color misleads your thought and gets you thinking more. I liked how the set was put together at the top and the use of both the top and the bottom were used. I liked the touch of the staircase that you could see on the bottom stage, I felt it added more the setting.

Sherlock Holmes, overall was a great play. There are so many ways you think can about the play and so many ways you can talk about it as well. Scenic Design is very important in a play and its what makes the play become a play. You can have actors and scripts, music, and lights, but until you have the scenery of that time, and place, its hard to picture what is going on. You can pull off a play without the scenic design, and many do, but it still would be blank and incomplete.