Barter Theatre Closes SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CASE OF THE JERSEY LILLY, 11/13

What do seduction and secrets, lies and lilies and mistresses and mayhem all have in common? They are all elements of Barter Theatre's upcoming mystery, "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily," playing at Barter Theatre October 1 through November 13.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's world famous detective is on the case in this new mystery told with a clever sense of humor by Katie Forgette. Director Katy Brown said, "Forgette gives us a new, true Sherlockian adventure - complete with danger, excitement, mystery, and intrigue."
 
It is the early 1890s in fog-laden Victorian London. A beautiful actress approaches the best detective in the city, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, for his help with a delicate situation. Mrs. Langtry, a British-born actress, nicknamed The Jersey Lily, has become the victim of a vicious blackmail scandal. Holmes works to unravel this mystery surrounding missing crown jewels, a secret love affair, a kidnapping and endless trickery.
 
Starring Nicholas Piper as the brilliant detective, the show features the talents of many of Barter's Resident Acting Company. Rick McVey plays Dr. Watson while Eugene Wolf plays Holmes' sinister arch nemesis, Professor Moriarty.  Moriarty is described in the play as "the greatest schemer of all time, the organizer of every deviltry, the controlling brain of the underworld, and the Napoleon of crime."

"It's been so much fun and challenging to play such an iconic figure. I feel it is important to live up to the standard while also making it my own," said Piper. No one is as he or she seems, in this battle of wits between Holmes and Professor Moriarty.

In between mystery and mayhem, Langtry's friend, and indulgent playwright, Oscar Wilde provides much comic relief. David McCall tackles the role of Wilde, whose character is inspired by the true flamboyant author. Some of Wilde's most notorious lines are used in the play.
 
Other actors in the show include newcomer Jill Anderson as the beautiful Mrs. Lillie Langtry, whose persona is also based on a real person, Sean Campos as the thug John Smythe, and newcomer Shirley Cottage as Mrs. Padgett.
 
Brown added, "This story really is both classic and brand new all at the same time. You feel like you are seeing Sherlock Holmes at work on a grand mystery, but it's never been so much fun to find the solution."

In celebration of Sherlock's detective work, Barter Theatre invites everyone to test their sleuth skills in the first ever Barter Theatre Geocaching Event. Find Barter Theatre on www.Facebook.com/bartertheatre and get updates with hints and coordinates. The first clues will be posted the week before Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily opens.
 
Barter Theatre's production, "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily" plays October 1 through November 13. Barter Theatre is funded in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily" is sponsored by 11 Connects, the Bristol Herald Courier, TriCities.com and WKPT Radio.
 
Call Barter Theatre's Box Office at 276.628.3991 or visit www.bartertheatre.com. Also connect with Barter Theatre on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube

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