By JESSE GRAHAM
THE OFTEN-told story of Sherlock Holmes receives a steampunk twist, as Yarra Valley-raised performers take to the stage in Mooroolbark next month.
Melbourne Steam Theatre will perform Sherlock Holmes: Era’s End on Saturday, 5 September, from 7pm at Mooroolbark Community Centre.
Era’s End re-imagines Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Scandal in Bohemia and The Final Problem, in a neo-Victorian, steampunk style, adapted by Steam Theatre director and former Upper Yarra resident, Jess Van Straalen and Harry Kaloyirou.
Ms Van Straalen said that, although the character of Holmes was largely unchanged, the other actors in Era’s End were able to create and develop their characters’ personalities themselves.
“Everyone else takes a really different take on all of our characters,” she said.
“I think it’s really good to give the actors something to do, really – something to make their own.
“I still guide them to what I’m after, and they have to have certain aspects to them, but the characters themselves and how they deliver them is completely up to them.”
She said the re-write of the stories helped to illustrate the relationships between Holmes and his nemesis, Moriarty, as well as the love interest, Irene Adler.
The relationship between Holmes and Adler was more alluded to than spelt out in the original texts, Ms Van Straalen said, adding that it would be more apparent in the theatre performance.
“It’s more of a fan-theory, and I don’t want to completely destroy Conan Doyle’s work by changing it too much, but a lot of it alludes to the fact that there are relationships among the members – and I do play on that a bit,” she said.
Ms Van Straalen said the steampunk style was generally classified by Victorian-style clothing, but with technological or sci-fi elements, as well as lots of brass and clockwork.
“It’s quite whacky, but it’s also quite dark, so it’s got a lot of really dark elements to it,” she said.
She said roughly 80 per cent of the small theatre group was made up of former or current Yarra Valley residents.
Tickets to Sherlock Holmes: Era’s End are $25 when purchased through the online pre-sale, or $30 at the door.
The show is held at Mooroolbark Community Centre, 125 Brice Avenue, Mooroolbark, and will begin at 7pm. For more information, visit ach.yarraranges.vic.gov.au or call 1300 368 333.
