5 Star Review on TripAdvisor by TravelingAmos on Nov. 6, 2017 when the play opened in November, 2017
While a play consisting of actors speaking into microphones as if performing for radio may sound boring, this was far from it. We were here during Sherlock Holmes Weekend in November, and we added this to the overall experience. The quality of the acting here was first-rate!
We were captivated throughout the roughly one-hour long performance. The sound engineer was perhaps the most interesting part as he simulated sounds for fire, wind, water, and other various sounds right in front of us as the actors spoke into the microphone.
If you come to Cape May for Sherlock Holmes Weekend in the spring or fall, a visit here is a must!
While a play consisting of actors speaking into microphones as if performing for radio may sound boring, this was far from it. We were here during Sherlock Holmes Weekend in November, and we added this to the overall experience. The quality of the acting here was first-rate!
We were captivated throughout the roughly one-hour long performance. The sound engineer was perhaps the most interesting part as he simulated sounds for fire, wind, water, and other various sounds right in front of us as the actors spoke into the microphone.
If you come to Cape May for Sherlock Holmes Weekend in the spring or fall, a visit here is a must!
Lee O'Connor, Marty McDonough, Susan Tischler, Fred Velde, Gayle Stahlhuth, and Rob LeMaire in SHERLOCK HOLMES ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND
"The question is the sequence of events leading from the rare gem, the Blue Carbuncle, at one end, to the stomach of a goose at the other,” says Sherlock Holmes to Dr. Watson as they begin an investigation that might save an innocent man from prison.
ELTC invites you to be part of our "radio audience" when we perform this famous mystery with live sound effects and commercials, and actors portraying several roles to make the tale come to life. Before television and the Internet, people sat eagerly by the radio to hear the latest dramas, comedies, and news. Many radio shows were performed in front of live audiences at the same time they were sent across the "airways."
This radio-style production is based on the story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Craig Wichman, Founder and Producer of Quicksilver Radio Theater.
The first time a Sherlock Holmes adventure was heard on the airways was October 20, 1930. The Holmes’ tale was The Speckled Band, adapted by Edith Meiser. Meiser proposed the idea for a Holmes’ radio show to NBC. At first they passed on the idea for lack of a sponsor, so Meiser found one: G. Washington Coffee. Doyle died during the summer of 1930, but his estate entrusted the development of the series to Meiser and NBC. Meiser, also an actress, wrote the series single-handedly for a dozen years, and with help through most of the 1940's. No audiences were allowed during the early broadcasts. Famous actor/playwright William Gillette, at age 77, starred in the radio show’s premiere. It was he who had created the first stage adaptation of the writings of Doyle in 1899, under the title Sherlock Holmes. Although he’d played the role over 1,000 times, he was uncomfortable with the radio format. Clive Brook replaced him for the next two performances. Richard Gordon played the role from November 10, 1930 through May of 1933, and again in 1936. Leigh Lovell and Harry West played Dr. Watson. From 1939 to 1946, Holmes and Watson were played by Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. At the same time, they played these roles in 16 films. The Sherlock Holmes radio series continued through 1950.
ELTC invites you to be part of our "radio audience" when we perform this famous mystery with live sound effects and commercials, and actors portraying several roles to make the tale come to life. Before television and the Internet, people sat eagerly by the radio to hear the latest dramas, comedies, and news. Many radio shows were performed in front of live audiences at the same time they were sent across the "airways."
This radio-style production is based on the story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Craig Wichman, Founder and Producer of Quicksilver Radio Theater.
The first time a Sherlock Holmes adventure was heard on the airways was October 20, 1930. The Holmes’ tale was The Speckled Band, adapted by Edith Meiser. Meiser proposed the idea for a Holmes’ radio show to NBC. At first they passed on the idea for lack of a sponsor, so Meiser found one: G. Washington Coffee. Doyle died during the summer of 1930, but his estate entrusted the development of the series to Meiser and NBC. Meiser, also an actress, wrote the series single-handedly for a dozen years, and with help through most of the 1940's. No audiences were allowed during the early broadcasts. Famous actor/playwright William Gillette, at age 77, starred in the radio show’s premiere. It was he who had created the first stage adaptation of the writings of Doyle in 1899, under the title Sherlock Holmes. Although he’d played the role over 1,000 times, he was uncomfortable with the radio format. Clive Brook replaced him for the next two performances. Richard Gordon played the role from November 10, 1930 through May of 1933, and again in 1936. Leigh Lovell and Harry West played Dr. Watson. From 1939 to 1946, Holmes and Watson were played by Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. At the same time, they played these roles in 16 films. The Sherlock Holmes radio series continued through 1950.
THE CAST
Tom Byrn (Sherlock Holmes) has performed with ELTC since 2009, most recently in two solo shows, Will Rogers U.S.A. (2018), and Mr. Lincoln, which was part of ELTC's 2015 and 2016 seasons and toured to Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble in PA. Howard Shapiro’s excellent review for “Newsworks” and WHYY TV and Radio stated: “Tom Byrn evokes Lincoln.” The link for the full review click here. Tom was also in ELTC’s Within the Law, He and She, Biography, The Dictator, and the world premiere of The Ransom of Red Chief.
In 2018, he directed ELTC's Silent Sky written by Lauren Gunderson, and in 2019, Summerland, written by Ariltia Jones.
In the past few years, Tom also performed in The Importance of Being Earnest and One Slight Hitch by Lewis Black (Cider Mill Playhouse, Endicott, NY), Jane Austen Readings (Franklin Stage Company, Franklin, NY); and Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker (The REP Stage, Baltimore/D.C.).
He has acted at various theaters in the Philadelphia area, including, People's Light & Theatre, Interact, Lantern, Act II Playhouse, and and at various other theaters in PA, NY, and OH.
Currently an Associate Member, for eleven years, Tom was a full-time Ensemble Member of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble in Bloomsburg, PA, where he acted, directed, wrote, and taught. He is co-editor of the trade paperback Letters to the Editor (Simon & Schuster) and a member of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab. He is a graduate of Vassar College, and a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Tom resides in the Susquehanna River Valley of central PA.
In 2018, he directed ELTC's Silent Sky written by Lauren Gunderson, and in 2019, Summerland, written by Ariltia Jones.
In the past few years, Tom also performed in The Importance of Being Earnest and One Slight Hitch by Lewis Black (Cider Mill Playhouse, Endicott, NY), Jane Austen Readings (Franklin Stage Company, Franklin, NY); and Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker (The REP Stage, Baltimore/D.C.).
He has acted at various theaters in the Philadelphia area, including, People's Light & Theatre, Interact, Lantern, Act II Playhouse, and and at various other theaters in PA, NY, and OH.
Currently an Associate Member, for eleven years, Tom was a full-time Ensemble Member of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble in Bloomsburg, PA, where he acted, directed, wrote, and taught. He is co-editor of the trade paperback Letters to the Editor (Simon & Schuster) and a member of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab. He is a graduate of Vassar College, and a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Tom resides in the Susquehanna River Valley of central PA.
Veronique Hurley (Chester, Voice of "The Globe," Street Musician, Bill, Cabbie, Margaret Oakshot) recently played Lizzie in ELTC's The Rainmaker. Off Broadway Theatre Credits include: The Tempest, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Hunting and Gathering (The Glass Eye), Women are crazy because men are Assholes (Cherry Lane Theatre), Regional Credits Include: Noises Off, To Kill A Mockingbird, Christmas Carol, (The Hartford Stage Company) The Straight Marriage Plays, Moon Over Buffalo (Cape May Stage), Biography, Silent Sky (East Lynne Theater) Around the World in 80 Days (won best ensemble, Broadwayworld.com), Bunnicula and Charlotte's Web (Playhouse on Park).
Mat Labotka (Announcer, Peterson, James Ryder, John Horner) recently plaid File in ELTC's The Rainmaker. An alum of Chicago’s Second City Conservatory and Marquette University, Mat is both classically trained and freshly comedic. New York credits include Henry in The King’s Face, Albert in Relativity of Love (Break A Leg), Victor in The Star and The Fire (90 Square Arts). Chicago credits include Metropolis Theatre, Circle Theatre, Second City, iO Chicago, Underground Lounge. Mat also performs in commercials, improv and stand-up comedy. matlabotka.com
Robert LeMaire (Man with the Goose, Windigate, Maudslay, Sound Effects, etc.) recently played "Teddy" in ELTC's Arsenic and Old Lace and was the Assistant Director. Currently, he's the director for ELTC's Summer Student Workshop and was recently honored, along with others who work with youth in theater, at the New Jersey Theatre Alliance’s annual gala. He’s performed in several ELTC productions including Ah! Wilderness, Dracula, The Late Christopher Bean, To the Ladies, You and I, The Dictator (2001 & 2010), and The Ransom of Red Chief. He’s worked sound effects and performed in ELTC’s Sherlock Holmes and Nick Carter Detective radio-style shows since 2008. His directing work for the Ocean City High School Drama Guild include Addams Family: A New Musical, Stage Door, Spamalot, Footloose: The Musical, Stage Door, and currently, he’s directing Pride and Prejudice. Other performance work includes Vistas of Democracy, a video series in NJ Network Public Television's Educational NJ Legacy Series. You may catch his shoulder in the History Channel's Civil War Terror.
Gayle Stahlhuth (Director, Mrs. Hudson, Street Musician, Mrs. Breckenridge) recently received an excellent review from Terry Teachout in “The Wall Street Journal” for playing Martha and directing ELTC’s Arsenic and Old Lace. She’s performed off-Broadway (Manhattan Theatre Club, etc.), in national tours (Cabaret, Fiddler, etc.), regional theater (Gateway Playhouse in Long Island, etc.), television, and radio. Other work involves directing cabaret shows in NYC, starting a dinner theater in Billings, MT, and creating a Medieval Festival at The Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore. A Year in the Trenches (2017), marked her 100th production for ELTC since becoming the company’s artistic director in 1999. She’s been awarded commissions from The National Portrait Gallery, the Missouri and Illinois Humanities Councils, and grants from the NJ Humanities Council, the NYS Council on the Arts, and the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for the Arts. For several years, she was a judge for the Emmy Awards in the field of broadcast news. In 2016, she was honored for her work in theater by The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW). Member: AEA, SAG-AFTRA, Dramatists Guild, and NAPW.
Fred Velde (Dr. Watson, Alfie) is a native New Yorker and has been part of the New York theater scene for over forty years. He has been a member of The Harbor Theatre since 1995 and is currently a member of The Workshop Theater. His theatre credits include The Price of Genius on Broadway, Sex by Mae West Off-Broadway, and Traveling Souls in Moscow as a member of The Phoenix Ensemble. For ELTC, he played Dr. McPhail in Rain, Chris in Anna Christie, Mr. Forbes in Dulcy, Detective Dupin in The Poe Mysteries, and Dr Watson in The Copper Beeches, The Speckled Band, and The Blue Carbuncle. As well as theater, he has appeared in film, soaps, Comedy Central and commercials. He is a member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.
