Sherlock Holmes one-act plays open 22nd season

 

To better utilize company resources, the Saint Sebastian Players have restructured their annual season from a spring-summer-fall to a fall-winter-spring sequence. As a result, the production that would have closed SSP’s 21st season—the world premiere of “Studies in Sherlock”—now opens the company’s 22nd season. Adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle by SSP cofounder Jim Masini, “Studies in Sherlock” consists of two one-act plays: “A Case of Identity” and “The Adventures of the Second Stain,” which will run through Nov. 17 at SSP’s theatre at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey Ave.

Each mystery in “Studies in Sherlock” relies on the inimitable deductive skills of one of literature’s best-loved detectives, Sherlock Holmes, and his helpful companion, Dr. Watson, for its solution. In “A Case of Identity,” Mary Sutherland asks Holmes to help locate her fiancé, Hosmer Angel, who disappeared on the morning of their wedding. In “The Adventure of the Second Stain,” two top government officials approach Holmes about finding an important “inflammatory” letter, which would lead to war if its contents became public knowledge.

The season continues with Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “Twelfth Night” March 7-20, 2003, and the drama “Independence,” by Lee Blessing, June 6-29, 2003.

Performances of “Studies in Sherlock” are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Saint Sebastian Players Theatre at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey Ave., at Marshfield Ave. just west of Ashland Ave. Free parking is available in two lots. Tickets are $12, $5 for seniors. Subscriptions to all three productions are available for $27, a 25 percent savings on full-priced tickets. Group rates also are available. For information or tickets, call (773) 404-7922, or log on to www.ticketweb.com.