'Sherlock Holmes' Is Coming to Stamford's Curtain Call

For the first time ever, the best-known detective of all time Sherlock Holmes and his band of intrepid friends will appear on Curtain Call’s Dressing Room Theatre stage beginning Thursday, Oct. 23.

Performances of Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of The Suicide Club will play Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8 o’clock at The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Ave., Stamford, beginning Oct. 23, continuing through Nov. 15. Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. also are scheduled. Seating in The Dressing Room Theatre is cabaret-style and features a BYOEverything format. Doors open one hour before curtain time each day.

Since his introduction in 1887, Sherlock Holmes holds the Guinness Book of World Records honor of being listed as “the most-portrayed movie character of all time” as more than 70 actors have portrayed Sherlock in more than 200 movies. Add to that the novels, stage plays, television and yes, even a musical outing, and it’s no wonder he is so well known. “I grew up reading all the stories and watching the Nigel Brice films on TV and loved them,” said Lou Ursone, Curtain Call executive director and producer for this show. “Holmes turned me on to mysteries and I’ve been hooked ever since,” he added.

“I’ve wanted to do a Holmes play here at Curtain Call for quite a while, but somehow, I just never got it to fit the right season. But now, especially since director Richard Mancini was available, I am thrilled to have it here,” Ursone noted. Mancini, he said, is a huge Holmes fan and has directed the famous detective in various plays. In addition to Mancini and Ursone, the creative team for this production includes production design by Peter Barbieri Jr. and costumes by Deborah Runnestad.

This new adventure by Jeffrey Hatcher is set in London, 1914. Behind the impassive facade of a windowless house, some of Europe’s most powerful men gather to play a game. The game is murder and this is The Suicide Club. But the Club has a new member: Sherlock Holmes. He cannot bear the thought that he might be losing his mental abilities. Does Holmes wish to die? Will he have to kill? Can his old friend Dr. Watson save him? Or doesn’t Holmes want to be saved? The master of all detectives comes head-to-head with a puzzling mystery that questions the boundaries of friendship, love and murder.

Appearing at Curtain Call for the first time and playing the title character is Geoffrey Gilbert of Stratford. Playing his good friend and sidekick, Dr. John Watson, is long-time Curtain Call performer, Bob Filipowich of Fairfield. The rest of the cast includes, from Stamford: Annalisa DiNucci, Erica Evelti, Daniel Mann; from Norwalk: Jim Foley; from Trumbull: Vic Terenzio; from Wilton: Stephen DiRocco, Larry Greely and Christina Richardson; and from Westport: Nikita Shpilberg.

Curtain Call launched its 24th season in September with just over 1,000 subscribers so many dates are already filling up. Ticket prices for most performances are $32 for adults, $24 for senior citizens and $16 for students/children. Thrifty Thursday price - all seats $22.

Box Office: 203-461-6358 or online at www.curtaincallinc.com. The rest the season of plays and musicals includes Meet Me In St. Louis, A Merry Mulberry Street Musical, Beau Jest, Man of La Mancha, All My Sons, Jesus Christ Superstar, Follies plus interactive murder mysteries, comedy nights and concerts.

Curtain Call is the non-profit community-based theatre company in residence at The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Ave., Stamford. Year-round productions are presented by and for area residents in The Kweskin Theatre and The Dressing Room Theatre. After-school, evening and weekend educational workshops in the performing arts are also offered year-round for ages five through adult.

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Contributed photo: Geoffrey Gilbert of Stratford as Sherlock Holmes.