Sherlock Holmes - Dallas Theater Center

By the
Numb#rs
56 short stories and 4 novels. Of the 60
stories about the famous detective, all but 4 are narrated by Doctor Watson. Of the 4 that aren’t narrated by Watson,
2 are narrated by Holmes himself and 2 are written in the 3 person.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle included the character of Sherlock Holmes in
rd
Guinness World Records has consistently listed Sherlock Holmes as the “most portrayed movie character” with more than
70 actors playing the part in over 200 films over the years.
Recent adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes series include:
 The 2009 film Sherlock Holmes, featuring Robert Downey, Jr.
as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson. Both Downey, Jr.
and Law returned in the 2011 sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A
Game of Shadows, and will also star in Sherlock Holmes 3,
release date TBD. (pictured, far left)
 The CBS television show Elementary, which takes place
in modern-day New York City and stars Jonny Lee Miller
as recovering British drug addict Sherlock Holmes and
Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. (pictured, left/center)
In Dallas Theater Center’s production of Sherlock Holmes: The
Final Adventure, costume designer Jennifer Ables collected
over 230 historical images in her research and produced
15 drawings for the costumes. 1/3 of the costumes were
2/3 were rented
created by DTC’s costume shop and
 The PBS/Masterpiece Mystery series Sherlock, another
version that is set in the 21st century—but in London,
as is tradtional to Doyle's stories. This incarnation stars
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Holmes
and Watson, respectively. (pictured, left)
STEVEN DIETZ based on the original 1899 play by
William Gillette and Arthur Conan Doyle
directed by KEVIN MORIARTY
by
from around the country and England. The cast will don more
than
and
10 period hats
23 collars in
5 styles secured
60 collar studs.
by
Reichenbach Falls
APRIL 25 - MAY 25
Wyly Theatre
From left: Doctor Watson,
Sherlock Holmes, Madge
Larrabee, Professor Moriarty,
and Irene Adler.
Costume renderings
by Jennifer Ables.
Jackson Walker, L.L.P.
PwC
Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP
Sidley Austin LLP
Dallas Theater Center would like to recognize the generosity of our major corporate partners.
The Moody Foundation Neiman Marcus Pier 1® Target Southwest Securities, Inc.
Stay Connected
the StudyGuide
2013
2014
Season
Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle
was born on May 22, 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Due to his father’s alcoholism
and mental illness, young Arthur and his siblings spent a great deal of time in the
care of others. Supported by wealthy uncles, he was afforded an education at the
Roman Catholic Jesuit preparatory school Hodder Place, Stonyhurst. He went
on to study at a variety of Jesuit schools before studying medicine at University
of Edinburgh Medical School. While there, Arthur Conan Doyle began writing
short stories and over the next nine years, he studied medicine, wrote, served
as a doctor onboard a whaling vessel and later a surgeon onboard a cargo ship
traveling to the West African coast.
Historical Bohemia
Arthur Conan Doyle’s early works included
both nonfiction articles and fictional stories
inspired by his time at sea. He struggled to
find success with a publisher until his 1887
novel, A Study in Scarlet—a detective
mystery featuring a consulting detective
by the name of Sherlock Holmes.
Historical Moravia
Meiringen
SWITZERLAND
Arthur Conan Doyle found great success with his creation of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, publishing
a number of short stories detailing the adventures of the duo. But, by 1893, the author wanted to turn his attention to
other writing (specifically historical novels), and killed off his popular detective in the story “The Final Problem”. Over the next
eight years, Arthur Conan Doyle pursued other interests including running unsuccessfully for Parliament twice, publishing a short
nonfiction work The War in South Africa: Its Cause and Conduct, which justified the UK’s involvement in the country. He was
subsequently knighted by King Edward VII. Public outcry at the death of the beloved Sherlock Holmes inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to
bring the character back in his 1901 novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, though the author set the novel as a prequel to Holmes' death.
In 1903, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published the story “The Adventure of the Empty House”, explaining Holmes' death as a scheme pulled
off by the great detective to elude his numerous enemies.
In his later years, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle advocated on behalf of the wrongly accused and took a keen interest in the study of spiritualism
(a belief that the spirits of the dead communicate from the spirit realm through mediums). He died of a heart attack at his home on July
7, 1930, at the age of 71. His last words were directed toward his wife: “You are wonderful.”
Sherlock Holmes:
The Great Detective
Sherlock Holmes is the fictional “consulting detective” created by Arthur Conan
Doyle. Based in London, Holmes, whose abilities border on the fantastic, is famous
for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise, and his use
of forensic science to solve difficult cases. The great detective first appeared in the
1887 novel A Study in Scarlet and was soon back in a second novel titled The Sign of
the Four. Holmes quickly garnered a following with a series of short stories, beginning
with “A Scandal in Bohemia” published in The Strand Magazine.
Sherlock Holmes appeared in print from 1887-1893 when, his creator killed off the
detective in a story titled “The Final Problem". For eight years, the public beseeched
Arthur Conan Doyle to resurrect the beloved Holmes and he relented with his novel
The Hound of the Baskervilles which appeared in print in 1901 but was set before
Holmes’s death. In 1903, the author wrote “The Adventure of the Empty House”, set
in 1894, in which Holmes reappears and explains to a stunned Doctor Watson that
he had only faked his death in “The Final Problem”. “The Adventure of the Empty
House” marks the beginning of the second set of stories, which continued until 1927.
The author chose not to kill off the character a second time, instead having the great
Sherlock Holmes retire to the countryside to become a beekeeper and occasionally
offer his skills in support of his country.
Did You
Know?
In the Steven Dietz-adapted work, Sherlock Holmes: The Final
Adventure, Holmes and Watson travel across London and on
to Europe to thwart Professor Moriarty. Below are some of the
locations referenced in the play.
Staging
Sherlock Holmes
During the time between the publication of “The Final Problem” and The Hound
of the Baskervilles, Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a five-act play script about Sherlock
Holmes’ and Doctor Watson’s early years together. His publisher turned
down the work citing its need for a great many edits, and it was
suggested that Arthur Conan Doyle sell the stage adaptation rights
to actor and writer William Gillette to adapt. He agreed, and
Gillette wrote a four-act play, simply titled, Sherlock Holmes. In
its creation, Gillette combined plotlines from several of Arthur
Conan Doyle’s stories including “A Scandal in Bohemia”,
“The Final Problem” and A Study in Scarlet. Arthur Conan
Doyle was given co-writing credit for providing the source
Gillette
material. The play had a successful thirty-year run.
 Baker Street in the Marylebone district of London is where the great Sherlock Holmes lives and
where the story begins.

Professor Moriarty is wreaking havoc from the Hammersmith district in West London to the
Blackwall district in the East End of London.
221b Baker St.,
Holmes' home
 Bohemia is a historical country in Central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional
Czech lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague. It was
bordered by what is present-day Germany to the west, present-day Poland to the northeast, the
historical region of Moravia to the east (which, combined with Bohemia is now present-day Czech
Republic), and present-day Austria to the south.
 Holmes, Watson and Ms. Adler travel to Switzerland. Their original passage
had them going through the towns of Canterbury and Dover before taking
passage to France. With Moriarty in hot pursuit, the travelers disembarked the
train in Canterbury and took a different train to Folkestone.
Other stage adaptations of Sherlock Holmes
have emerged over the years, And, in
2006, American playwright Steven
Dietz adapted the Gillette/Doyle
script into Sherlock Holmes: The
Final Adventure.
Arthur Conan Doyle has said the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes was Dr. Joseph Bell, a surgeon at the Royal
Infirmary of Edinburgh for whom Doyle had worked. Like Holmes, Dr. Bell was known for using close observation
to then draw large conclusions. Because of these skills, Bell is considered a pioneer in forensic science (forensic
pathology in particular) at a time when science was not yet widely used in criminal investigations.
 From Folkestone, Holmes, Watson and Ms. Adler travel by ferry to Dieppe,
France, up through Brussels, Belgium, through the country of Luxembourg,
down through the Rhone Valley in France and on to the village of Meiringen
in Switzerland.
 It is in the village of Meiringen that the final confrontation between Sherlock
Holmes and Professor Moriarty takes place, at Reichenbach Falls.
Dr. Bell
Canterbury
Dover
Folkestone
Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle
was born on May 22, 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Due to his father’s alcoholism
and mental illness, young Arthur and his siblings spent a great deal of time in the
care of others. Supported by wealthy uncles, he was afforded an education at the
Roman Catholic Jesuit preparatory school Hodder Place, Stonyhurst. He went
on to study at a variety of Jesuit schools before studying medicine at University
of Edinburgh Medical School. While there, Arthur Conan Doyle began writing
short stories and over the next nine years, he studied medicine, wrote, served
as a doctor onboard a whaling vessel and later a surgeon onboard a cargo ship
traveling to the West African coast.
Historical Bohemia
Arthur Conan Doyle’s early works included
both nonfiction articles and fictional stories
inspired by his time at sea. He struggled to
find success with a publisher until his 1887
novel, A Study in Scarlet—a detective
mystery featuring a consulting detective
by the name of Sherlock Holmes.
Historical Moravia
Meiringen
SWITZERLAND
Arthur Conan Doyle found great success with his creation of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, publishing
a number of short stories detailing the adventures of the duo. But, by 1893, the author wanted to turn his attention to
other writing (specifically historical novels), and killed off his popular detective in the story “The Final Problem”. Over the next
eight years, Arthur Conan Doyle pursued other interests including running unsuccessfully for Parliament twice, publishing a short
nonfiction work The War in South Africa: Its Cause and Conduct, which justified the UK’s involvement in the country. He was
subsequently knighted by King Edward VII. Public outcry at the death of the beloved Sherlock Holmes inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to
bring the character back in his 1901 novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, though the author set the novel as a prequel to Holmes' death.
In 1903, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published the story “The Adventure of the Empty House”, explaining Holmes' death as a scheme pulled
off by the great detective to elude his numerous enemies.
In his later years, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle advocated on behalf of the wrongly accused and took a keen interest in the study of spiritualism
(a belief that the spirits of the dead communicate from the spirit realm through mediums). He died of a heart attack at his home on July
7, 1930, at the age of 71. His last words were directed toward his wife: “You are wonderful.”
Sherlock Holmes:
The Great Detective
Sherlock Holmes is the fictional “consulting detective” created by Arthur Conan
Doyle. Based in London, Holmes, whose abilities border on the fantastic, is famous
for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise, and his use
of forensic science to solve difficult cases. The great detective first appeared in the
1887 novel A Study in Scarlet and was soon back in a second novel titled The Sign of
the Four. Holmes quickly garnered a following with a series of short stories, beginning
with “A Scandal in Bohemia” published in The Strand Magazine.
Sherlock Holmes appeared in print from 1887-1893 when, his creator killed off the
detective in a story titled “The Final Problem". For eight years, the public beseeched
Arthur Conan Doyle to resurrect the beloved Holmes and he relented with his novel
The Hound of the Baskervilles which appeared in print in 1901 but was set before
Holmes’s death. In 1903, the author wrote “The Adventure of the Empty House”, set
in 1894, in which Holmes reappears and explains to a stunned Doctor Watson that
he had only faked his death in “The Final Problem”. “The Adventure of the Empty
House” marks the beginning of the second set of stories, which continued until 1927.
The author chose not to kill off the character a second time, instead having the great
Sherlock Holmes retire to the countryside to become a beekeeper and occasionally
offer his skills in support of his country.
Did You
Know?
In the Steven Dietz-adapted work, Sherlock Holmes: The Final
Adventure, Holmes and Watson travel across London and on
to Europe to thwart Professor Moriarty. Below are some of the
locations referenced in the play.
Staging
Sherlock Holmes
During the time between the publication of “The Final Problem” and The Hound
of the Baskervilles, Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a five-act play script about Sherlock
Holmes’ and Doctor Watson’s early years together. His publisher turned
down the work citing its need for a great many edits, and it was
suggested that Arthur Conan Doyle sell the stage adaptation rights
to actor and writer William Gillette to adapt. He agreed, and
Gillette wrote a four-act play, simply titled, Sherlock Holmes. In
its creation, Gillette combined plotlines from several of Arthur
Conan Doyle’s stories including “A Scandal in Bohemia”,
“The Final Problem” and A Study in Scarlet. Arthur Conan
Doyle was given co-writing credit for providing the source
Gillette
material. The play had a successful thirty-year run.
 Baker Street in the Marylebone district of London is where the great Sherlock Holmes lives and
where the story begins.

Professor Moriarty is wreaking havoc from the Hammersmith district in West London to the
Blackwall district in the East End of London.
221b Baker St.,
Holmes' home
 Bohemia is a historical country in Central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional
Czech lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague. It was
bordered by what is present-day Germany to the west, present-day Poland to the northeast, the
historical region of Moravia to the east (which, combined with Bohemia is now present-day Czech
Republic), and present-day Austria to the south.
 Holmes, Watson and Ms. Adler travel to Switzerland. Their original passage
had them going through the towns of Canterbury and Dover before taking
passage to France. With Moriarty in hot pursuit, the travelers disembarked the
train in Canterbury and took a different train to Folkestone.
Other stage adaptations of Sherlock Holmes
have emerged over the years, And, in
2006, American playwright Steven
Dietz adapted the Gillette/Doyle
script into Sherlock Holmes: The
Final Adventure.
Arthur Conan Doyle has said the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes was Dr. Joseph Bell, a surgeon at the Royal
Infirmary of Edinburgh for whom Doyle had worked. Like Holmes, Dr. Bell was known for using close observation
to then draw large conclusions. Because of these skills, Bell is considered a pioneer in forensic science (forensic
pathology in particular) at a time when science was not yet widely used in criminal investigations.
 From Folkestone, Holmes, Watson and Ms. Adler travel by ferry to Dieppe,
France, up through Brussels, Belgium, through the country of Luxembourg,
down through the Rhone Valley in France and on to the village of Meiringen
in Switzerland.
 It is in the village of Meiringen that the final confrontation between Sherlock
Holmes and Professor Moriarty takes place, at Reichenbach Falls.
Dr. Bell
Canterbury
Dover
Folkestone
By the
Numb#rs
56 short stories and 4 novels. Of the 60
stories about the famous detective, all but 4 are narrated by Doctor Watson. Of the 4 that aren’t narrated by Watson,
2 are narrated by Holmes himself and 2 are written in the 3 person.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle included the character of Sherlock Holmes in
rd
Guinness World Records has consistently listed Sherlock Holmes as the “most portrayed movie character” with more than
70 actors playing the part in over 200 films over the years.
Recent adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes series include:
 The 2009 film Sherlock Holmes, featuring Robert Downey, Jr.
as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson. Both Downey, Jr.
and Law returned in the 2011 sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A
Game of Shadows, and will also star in Sherlock Holmes 3,
release date TBD. (pictured, far left)
 The CBS television show Elementary, which takes place
in modern-day New York City and stars Jonny Lee Miller
as recovering British drug addict Sherlock Holmes and
Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. (pictured, left/center)
In Dallas Theater Center’s production of Sherlock Holmes: The
Final Adventure, costume designer Jennifer Ables collected
over 230 historical images in her research and produced
15 drawings for the costumes. 1/3 of the costumes were
2/3 were rented
created by DTC’s costume shop and
 The PBS/Masterpiece Mystery series Sherlock, another
version that is set in the 21st century—but in London,
as is tradtional to Doyle's stories. This incarnation stars
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Holmes
and Watson, respectively. (pictured, left)
STEVEN DIETZ based on the original 1899 play by
William Gillette and Arthur Conan Doyle
directed by KEVIN MORIARTY
by
from around the country and England. The cast will don more
than
and
10 period hats
23 collars in
5 styles secured
60 collar studs.
by
Reichenbach Falls
APRIL 25 - MAY 25
Wyly Theatre
From left: Doctor Watson,
Sherlock Holmes, Madge
Larrabee, Professor Moriarty,
and Irene Adler.
Costume renderings
by Jennifer Ables.
Jackson Walker, L.L.P.
PwC
Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP
Sidley Austin LLP
Dallas Theater Center would like to recognize the generosity of our major corporate partners.
The Moody Foundation Neiman Marcus Pier 1® Target Southwest Securities, Inc.
Stay Connected
the StudyGuide
2013
2014
Season