East Lynne Theater Company Presents SHERLOCK HOLMES' ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND

"Mr. Holmes, I am under such a strain that I shall go mad if it continues. Do you think that your powers could shed a little light in the darkness which surrounds me?" asks Enid Stonor. And with these words, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves in a race against time to stop the bizarre murders in an eerie country manor.

Step back in time, on Friday, March 16 and Saturday March 17 at 8:00 p.m., when the Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company presents Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Speckled Band" in the style of a radio broadcast, complete with live sound effects and commercials, just like the Sherlock Holmes' radio series on NBC that premiered in 1930.

"The Speckled Band" is based on one of Doyle's personally favorite stories, and his rarely produced play "The Stonor Case," adapted by Craig Wichman with the permission of Dame Jean Conan Doyle. Craig is Founder and Producer of the nationally acclaimed Quicksilver Radio Theater and this script received the National Federation of Community Broadcasters' "Gold Reel" for Radio Drama Award.

The cast includes many East Lynne favorites. Lee O'Connor is once more portraying Holmes, and Fred Velde returns as Dr. Watson. Lee first portrayed Holmes in ELTC's William Gillette's "Sherlock Holmes" and has become one of the main storytellers for the company's "Tales of the Victorians." Fred, who was in ELTC's "Anna Christie" and "Rain," has appeared in over fifty shows in NYC, including the off-Broadway revival of Mae West's "Sex." Susan Tischler portrays Enid Stonor. She was commissioned by ELTC to create and perform "Helpful Hints," based on a "how-to" book written in 1916, and recently performed in "The Wreck of the Spanish Armada" produced by SPQR Theater in Cape May. Dr. Roylott is Craig Wichman, who wrote this radio adaptation. He's performed in several Off-Broadway productions, and appeared in television's "Law and Order." Phil Pizzi has performed in several shows for ELTC, including "It Pays to Advertise," and he hosts "The Morning Show" on 98.7-FM The Coast, WCZT, the most listened-to radio station in Cape May County. Phil portrays several roles, and operates the live sound effects. ELTC's Artistic Director, Gayle Stahlhuth plays Mrs. Hudson and Violet Stoner, and directs. The 2017 fall show, "A Year in the Trenches," marked her 100th production for ELTC.

The performances are at The First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 500 Hughes Street, where the company is in residence. Tickets are $28 for general admission, $20 for full-time students and military (active/retired/veteran), and, as always, anyone age 12 and under is free. For information and reservations, call 609-884-5898 or visit www.eastlynnetheater.org. "Adventure of the Speckled Band" is part of Cape May's "Sherlock Holmes' Weekend." For other Sherlock Holmes' events, contact Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities at 609-884-5404 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

As usual, ELTC's radio-style shows go on the road in March, courtesy of New Jersey Theatre Alliance's "Stages Festival," and this year is no exception. "Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Speckled Band," and another popular touring show, "Victorian Magic" with Robert Aberdeen, will be at libraries in Bergen and Ocean Counties. Visit ELTC's web site, www.eastlynnetheater.org under "News," for details about these admission-free performances. For information about the "Stages Festival," go to https://njtheatrealliance.org/stages-festival.

Photo Credit: Audrey Dingler