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Study Guide

for Students and Educators


Researched and designed by the Education Department at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, this study guide is intended to prepare you for your visit to the theater. It contains biographical and production information that will aid your understanding and appreciation of the production. Weve also included questions and activities for you to explore before and after our performance of

Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure


If you would like to schedule a classroom workshop, or if we can help in some other way, please call. (414) 290-5393 Study Guide written by Jenny Kostreva, Education Artist Additional Information provided by Jacque Troy, Education Director Editing by Timothy X. Troy, Education Artist

Sherlock Holmes:
The Final Adventure
Production Dates:
April 12 May 14, 2006

Whats in our Study Guide?


p. 2 p. 3 p. 4 p. 5 p. 6 p. 7 p. 8 About the Playwright & Creator Whats the Story? Prologue to Performance Pre-Show Activities A Brief History Recommended Resources A Few Additional Definitions Curtain Conversations Final Ovations We Couldnt do it Without You Visiting The Rep

Written by Steven Dietz Based on the 1899 play by William Gillette and Arthur Conan Doyle Directed by Joe Hanreddy

Programs in the Education Department receive generous funding from: o o o o o The Einhorn Family Foundation GE Healthcare Harley Davidson The Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation The Halbert & Alice Kadish Foundation

About the Creator of Sherlock Holmes:


Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1877, he studied medicine at Edinburgh University. He then moved to Plymouth, England and married Louise (Touie) Hawkins. In 1886 he wrote his first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, which was published in The Strand Magazine. He wrote a series of stories which became very popular but in 1891 he decided to explore his medical career options. In that same year he came down with a serious case of influenza and re-evaluated his life. He gave up medicine and became a fulltime writer. He moved to London and was an overnight sensation. People loved the Sherlock Holmes stories so much, that he felt trapped by them because he wanted to be taken seriously as a historical fiction novelist. In 1893, his wife took sick and his father passed away. He moved to Switzerland and wrote The Adventure of the Final Problem where Holmes falls to his death. Fans were outraged and people actually mourned the death of the fictional character. However, the publishers wanted Sherlock Holmes alive and in 1903 Doyle revived Holmes in his story, The Adventure of the Empty House. He wrote his final Holmes series in 1925 and announced his retirement. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle died on July 7, 1930.

About the Playwright:


Steven Dietz
Steven Dietz began his career as a director at the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis. He has written over twenty plays and adaptations that have been produced regionally and off-broadway as well as internationally in ten different countries. He received the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Awards for both Fiction and Still Life with Iris. For his play, Lonely Planet, he received the PEN USA Award in Drama and he also received the Lila Wallace/Readers Digest Award for The Rememberer. His other well-produced plays include Gods Country, Private Eyes, Rocket Man, Trust, and The Nina Variations. Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure is a new play that premiered at the Arizona Theatre Company in March of 2006. Dietz loosely adapted the play from the original play written by William Gillette and Arthur Conan Doyle. He also drew from Doyles Sherlock Holmes stories, A Scandal in Bohemia and The Final Problem.

Sources:
The Baker Street Reader: Cornerstone Writings about Sherlock Holmes Ed. By Philip A. Shreffler, 1984 The Bedside, Bathtub and Armchair Companion to Sherlock Homes by Dick Riley and Pam McAllister, 1999. www.dramatists.us/stevendietz www.dramaticpublishing.com/AuthorBio.cfm?titlelink=9252 www.azstarnet.com/caliente/117772

Whats the Story?


Character Descriptions
Sherlock Holmes: A genius detective during the late 19 and early 20 centuries, Holmes is a smart, keen observer, and is also a master of disguise. He loves to tell people the creative ways he solves a mystery. He lives on 221B Baker Street, London. He is the fictional creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, although many people still believe he really existed. Doctor Watson: Often the narrator in the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, Watson is Holmes closest friend and sidekick. He is a medical doctor who is a sentimental old fool, which Holmes doesnt necessarily enjoy. He is a very intelligent, married man who doesnt have Holmes insight but is willing to follow Holmes to the end. Professor Moriarity: The arch enemy of Sherlock Holmes. He is a mathematical genius, however, crime claimed his interests so he became the secret head of the criminal underground. He is the man that Holmes refers to as his match. The King of Bohemia: Former lover of Irene Adler, he is engaged to be married to another woman and is desperately afraid of his fianc learning about Irene. Has hired Holmes in the past and now wants him to help destroy the evidence of his affair. Irene Adler: An opera singer who beguiles men anywhere she goes. She is the only woman to have outwitted Sherlock Holmes. Holmes has referred to her always as The Woman. James Larrabee: Formerly legal counsel, he now works for Moriarty. Madge Larrabee: The sister of James Larrabee, who also works for Moriarty Sid Prince: A weapons fanatic who also works for Moriarty. His former partner, Colvin was arrested by Holmes. Watson tries to record his final words about Sherlock Holmes. He flashes back to the beginning of the end. Holmes and Watson are in Holmes study. Holmes tells Watson about his arch-rival, a villain named Moriarty. He explains that he is the crime lord in London, and he never leaves a trace. Holmes admits he has met his match. However, Holmes is attempting to orchestrate a massive arrest of all Moriartys men on the same daythe only way to catch him. The only problem is that Moriarty knows about the plan and has set out to kill Holmes before it can occur. The King of Bohemia breaks in and wants to hire Holmes to recover an incriminating photograph of himself with his past lover, an opera star named Irene Adler. The king is engaged to be married very soon to someone else. Irene threatened to send the photo to the brides family on their wedding day. As Holmes works to recover the photograph, he falls for Irene and discovers that Moriarty is also trying to get his hands on the photograph. Holmes has to resort to disguises and other kinds of trickery as a whole new mystery develops. Meanwhile, Holmes has been informed that the Scotland Yard doesnt have enough evidence to convict Moriarty because all the witnesses have been murdered. Holmes intends to use himself to bait Moriarty. Moriarty devises a way to lure Holmes into a gas chamber where he plans to kill the famous detective. The plan goes horribly wrong when Irene appears at the gas chamber and Holmes uses his cunning to change the outcome. Holmes still plans the massive arrest of Moriartys men in order to capture Moriarty once and for all. Moriarty warns Holmes that if he doesnt call off the arrest, he will kill him. Holmes and Watson get on a train to Switzerland with Moriarty in hot pursuit. They arrive at a secluded inn and hike near a waterfall. Watson is called away and eventually returns to learn that Moriarty was there waiting to capture Holmes. Watson finds a letter from Holmes and sees the footprints of Holmes and Moriarty leading off the edge of the falls. Is Holmes really dead?
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Prologue to Performance: Pre show Questions to Consider


1. The fictional character of Sherlock Holmes is a great detective. How do you utilize detective work in your own life? Pretend that you lost a library book that you need for a class. How would you go about finding the book? How would you use problem-solving skills, such as observation, memory and deduction, to help find what you lost? 2. What qualities should a person possess in order to become a world famous legend like Sherlock Holmes? What people from actual history would you consider a legend? What attributes do they possess that make them so memorable? 3. Holmes and Watson have a very strong friendship. At one point in the play, Holmes reminds Watson of the danger that may befall him if he should continue to stand by Holmes. Watson tells the audience, I resolved never to leave Holmes side until this danger had passed. Is there anyone in your life that you care about enough to stay by their side no matter how much danger you are putting yourself in? What is it about them that makes them so important to you? Answer to mystery on p. 7: 3-2-6-1-4-5 All the loot is now hidden.

Pre Show Activities


1. Write you own mystery story. Be sure to include the crime, the detective, the villain, and a set of clues for your detective to follow. Does your detective have a sidekick? Be sure that your detective uses observation, memory, deduction and other problem-solving skills to solve the mystery. (Creative Writing) 2. Sherlock Holmes is a very popular character in stories, movies, television and theater. Theres even a cartoon that places Sherlock Holmes in the future. In each of these media, Holmes has been depicted a little bit differently. Now its your turn to try designing a look for Sherlock Holmes. Holmes lived in London during the late 19th century and early 20th century (The Victorian Age). Research the clothing of this time period and take a look at the different costumes that have been made for Sherlock Holmes characters throughout history. Draw a detailed picture, including color, of your costume for Sherlock Holmes and share it with your classmates. How is your costume similar to the other costumes created for him? How does it differ?

(Research, Visual Art, Compare/Contrast)


3. Sherlock Holmes has keen observation skills. Test your own observation skills with your classmates. Have your teacher set out about 20-40 items in an area. Give everyone five minutes to study the items. Go into another room or an area of the room where you can no longer see the objects. Have each student make a list of the objects. The student who remembers the most objects is the winner!

(Observation, Memory Skills)


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A Brief History: London, the Victorian Era, & Sherlock Holmes


Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure takes place in London, 1893. This time period is in the end of the Victorian Era. Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1901. During her reign, London became the central focus of industrial production and territorial expansion. It was a very vital and energetic period when population boomed and new inventions were created to make life easier for people. Here is some interesting information about the time period, culture and the life of Sherlock Holmes: One persons design for Holmes study According to Sir Arthur Conan Doyles stories, Sherlock Holmes lived at 221b Baker Street in a Victorian lodging house between the years of 1881-1904. Scotland Yard, which Sherlock Holmes refers to, is where the police headquarters is located. Their Criminal Investigation Department, also housed in this location, was established in 1842. Sherlock Holmes is known to be a cocaine user. During this time period, cocaine was still used for medicinal purposes and was completely legal. It was around this time when doctors began to notice the negative effects the drug has on people. But cocaine didnt become illegal until the mid-1900s. The telephone was invented in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell. The first telephone exchange in London opened in 1879. Apparently, Sherlock Holmes still preferred the telegram as we never see him use the telephone in the show! By 1878, there was an Underground Rail System in place in London. It was completely steam-driven until the first electric underground train was developed in 1890. It was very risky to travel underground at this time because the rail system was the target for many bombers. In 1879, Thomas Edison perfected the electric light bulb. By 1885 electric light was prominent in restaurants, hotels, theatres, and even some private homes.

Recommended Resources:
The Baker Street Reader: Cornerstone Writings about Sherlock Holmes edited by Philip A. Shreffler, 1984. In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes by Michael Harrison, 1972. Sherlock Holmes in America edited by Bill Blackbear, 1981. The World of Sherlock Holmes by Michael Harrison, 1975. Fifty Years of Victorian London: From the Great Exhibition to the Queens Death by Stella Margetson, 1969. www.sherlockian.net www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/

A Few Additional Definitions


Phonograph: A device that reproduces sound by means of a needle riding in the grooves of a rotating disk. Bohemia: A historical region and former kindom of present-day western Czech Republic. The Czechs settled in the area between the first and fifth centuries A.D. Bohemia became part of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Monogram: A design made up of one or more letters, usually the initials of a name. Baker Street Irregulars: A small group of street urchins employed by Sherlock Holmes to perform various missions. Their leader was the energetic and inventive Wiggins. Inspector LeStrade: A Scotland Yard (See A Brief History on p. 5) detective who appears in several of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Reichenbach Falls: Total drop 656 ft (200 m), located in south central Switzerland, where the Reichenbach River joins the Aare River. Upper Reichenbach Falls is one of the highest cataracts (c.300 ft/90 m high) in the Alps. It is familiar to readers of Arthur Conan Doyle as the place where Sherlock Holmes was said to have disappeared with his arch enemy, Professor Moriarty, and died.
Definitions taken from:
The American Heritage Student Dictionary pub. by Houghton Mifflin, 1998. The Baker Street Reader: Cornerstone Writings about Sherlock Holmes Ed. By Philip A. Shreffler, 1984

Curtain Conversations: Post Show Questions to Consider


1. Many believed Sherlock Holmes was a real person. Why do you suppose people thought that? Are there any other fictional characters that you can think of that people believe are real? 2. Dr. Watson is the narrator of the story. How does his role as narrator help to tell the story? How would the story be different if he was only a character in the story and there was no narrator? 3. Why do you think Holmes gave the photograph back to Irene when he was hired to retrieve it from Irene and give it to the King of Bohemia? 4. The first Sherlock Holmes story was written in 1886, which means these stories have been around for over 100 years. Why do you think people are still interested in reading these stories today?

Final Ovations: Post Show Activities


1. Stephen Dietz adapted this play from two different Sherlock Holmes stories: A Scandal in Bohemia and The Final Problem. Find copies of each story and read through them. Which parts of each story do you remember in the play? What parts of the stories did the playwright leave out? Get into groups of 4 or 5 and discuss why you think the playwright chose the parts of the stories that he did. Also discuss how the stories were different from the play. Each group should take turns sharing their thoughts with the class. (Literature, Compare/Contrast, Presentation) 2. An actors main job is to pretend to be someone else. In order to be believable and actor must know as much about his or her character as possible. Some of the information is found in the script, some is taken from history if the character is from a different time period, and the rest comes from the actors imagination. Choose a character from Sherlock Holmes on whom to write a biography. Since there are many Sherlock Holmes stories and literary writings about them, try researching the character to find out more about him or her. Whatever you cant find, create from your own imagination. Be sure to include background information such as when and where was your character born, what kind of schools did he or she attend, what was the family life like, etc. Have fun with it and be creative! You might want to see how your ideas stack up against a classmate who chose the same character. (Research, Creative Writing) 3. Heres your chance to be a detective using the following riddle reprinted from a childrens mystery puzzle book: Foundan envelope containing six small pieces of paper. It was lying on the floor of a deserted hideout of a sinister crime organization. Under the flap of the envelope was a note which read: Arrange these pieces in pairs, in the number order youve been given, and read it like a book. Try out various combinations to find the correct order and meaning for the message. Answer can be found on p. 4 of this study guide. (Problem Solving)

USED TO OCCUPY ON ELM FARM

IS NOW HIDDEN 2 PLACE THE MONEY


4

ALL THE LOOT IN A SAFE FROM THE BANK DOWN THE WELL

EVERY GANG MEMBER

THERE BY CAR

IS TO GO 5 AND TRAVEL ALONE

We couldnt do it without you....


Theater is often described as a collaborative art form. This means that a lot of peoples talents are needed to put on a show: playwrights, directors, designers, technicians, actors and the audience. No kiddingwe couldnt do it without you. Plays require audiences to give a whole, new life to performances through their careful attention and enthusiastic reactions. Silence, laughter and even tears can tell us a lot about how the work is reaching out to you. Through your considerate observation of sets, costumes, lighting and the work of the actors, youll be better able to follow the story and enjoy its live presentation. Of course, theater is very different from movies and television since you are sitting in the same room with the actors. These performers spend weeks in rehearsal practicing how to move precisely and learning how to time the lines and reactions carefully. When inappropriate movement or conversation in the audience distracts the actors, they are not able to give you the fine performance that they rehearsed for you. Your attention literally helps them to succeed. So, we hope you will understand how important you are to this collaboration and help the actors by watching and listening carefully. Those seated around you will either learn from your example or appreciate your thoughtful attention. Enjoy the show!
Special thanks to The Kennedy Center for a model provided by their Cue Sheet for Students

Visiting the Rep


Milwaukee Repertory Theater is housed in The Milwaukee Center at the corner of Wells and Water Streets, downtown. When you pull up on the Wells Street side, youll see large banners announcing The Rep: Live Theater at its Best. Our building was formerly the home of Electric Railway & Light Company. This name is still carved on the wall outside. Youll enter on the Wells Street side into a large, open space. Our box office will be visible on your left as you come through the front doors. The large space is the main hub for the businesses that share this building: a bank, an office tower, the Pabst Theatre and the Wyndam Hotel. If you walk into the center of this area, youll see a staircase on your left. You will take this staircase to the Powerhouse Theater lobby. Inside the lobby are restrooms, water fountains and a coat check. If you decide to bring a snack, please know that food and drink are NOT permitted in the theater. However, you can leave things (at your own risk) in the coat check room, and enjoy them outside the theater during the intermission. Most plays have one intermission that is about 20 minutes long. You might also want to look for signs in the lobby which give the full running time of the play. If you arrive forty-five minutes before the show, you can participate in a FREE pre-show talk called Rep In Depth. An actor from the show usually leads this discussion. This person will tell you a little about the play, the playwright, and the period in which the show is set. Often, they will also share stories about the design and rehearsal process. You can ask questions too!

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