All the gang is here, Holmes (Eugene Gilfedder), Watson (Anthony Gooley), Mycroft (Darcy Brown), Professor Moriarty (Bryan Probets), even the housekeeper Mrs Hudson (Helen Cassidy) makes an appearance. The plot revolves around Moriarty and his nefarious plans to create and use a biological weapon to control the social direction in regards to overthrowing the residing political party.

The set and staging are stellar and add a lot to the visual impact of the play. It utilises rolling set pieces with large flat surfaces to reflect imaginative projected images and animated bits. These are used to show Holmes’ thought process and establish times and places. There is one scene in particular, a chase around the streets of London that is dizzying in its effectiveness.

The themes and sense of peril mirror our current times in many ways and give the proceedings a sense of relevance and impact. Over a hundred years later these characters still resonate. With its attention-grabbing production and quality cast, The Mystery Of The Valkyrie is an entertaining night at the theatre and one not to be missed. Its limited run lasts until March 19.
www.themysteryofthevalkyrie.com/

The two leads are young and exciting and the veteran actors on stage are generous with both their presence and acting skills. The play features a very clever stage set up that appears very simple at first only to surprise with a depth of application. The use of stage props is excellent throughout as well. There are interludes of song that buttress the work with a fresh approach.

Dressing the cast in skinny jeans and Chuck Taylors and doing away with the trappings of time and opulence makes the look feel current. Staging the fight scenes as street gang warfare turns the brutality into choreographed dance. All these new strands weave together splendidly. This is a play for the fans of Will and those that have a will to be fans.

Cast
Kerith Atkinson, Jack Bannister, Bridget Boyle, Grady Ferricks-Rosevear, Eugene Gilfedder, Darcy Gooda, Nicole Hoskins, Nikhil Singh, Colin Smith and Wei Lan Zhong

Creatives
Writer: William Shakespeare, Director: Todd MacDonald, Additional Dramaturgy: Lucas Stibbard, Set & Costume Design: Anthony Spinaze, Lighting Design: Katie Sfetkidis, Sound Design: Anna Whitaker and Fight Choreographer: Nigel Poulton

Romeo and Juliet is playing at the La Boite Theatre, Brisbane from 25 May – 15 June 2019. Head to their website for more information and tickets www.laboite.com.au

Photo Credit: Stephen Henry