Category: Taproot Theatre

@showsiveseen Margaret Raether's "Sherlock Holmes & the Precarious Position" #mystery #play at @TaprootTheatre. Strong cast doubling & comical portrayals from Nathan Brockett & Sophia Franzella. Audible gasps from the audience during the unexpected twists at the end! #showsiveseen #theatre #sherlockholmes ♬ Retro Shimmy – Amy Rider

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Sherlock Holmes & the Precarious Position mystery play at Taproot Theatre. Strong cast doubling and comical portrayals from Nathan Brockett & Sophia Franzella. Audible gasps from the audience during the unexpected twists at the end! #sherlockholmes

Synopsis from the Theatre: Corsets, crowns, and a missing royal jewel set the stage for a battle of wits in this tale of deception, suspense, and deduction. When the bookish Perkins sisters approach Sherlock Holmes with a case, they unveil a theatrical scheme of encyclopedic proportions. Four actors play multiple characters and the mystery turns deadly.

Attended Performance Date: 5/18/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen.

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set? There was a small rotating stage device that allowed distinctly transitioning between scenes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Equity Actors: 2

Total Number of Actors: 4

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? No

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No, but it was good

Theatre Company: Taproot Theatre

Venue: Jewell Mainstage at Taproot Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 204 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103

Price: $25-62

Tickets: https://taproottheatre.org/shows/2024/sherlock-holmes-and-the-precarious-position/

Dates: May 15 to June 22, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid lot or usually-free street parking. I always find free street parking on Greenwood Ave just South of the theatre.

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Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

• https://taproottheatre.org/shows/2024/sherlock-holmes-and-the-precarious-position/
• Program

Pictures: See pictures below and in video above by Robert Wade Photography.

@showsiveseen "How to Write a New Book for the Bible" #play at @TaprootTheatre starring Pam Nolte & Richard Nguyen Sloniker. Digs into the sad process of caring for ill, #aging, #dying #parents. Oh lawd, don't let me get old or sick! #children #family #theatre #showsiveseen Review: showsiveseen.com/8370 Photos: Robert Wade Director: @Bretteney Beverly Stage Manager: @nik! ♬ Fine Wine – Devin Kennedy

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): “How to Write a New Book for the Bible” play at Taproot Theatre. Digs into the sad process of caring for ill, aging, dying #parents. Oh lawd, don’t let me get old or sick! Closes this weekend. #children #family

Synopsis from the Theatre: Playwright and Jesuit priest Bill Cain moves home to care for his strong-spirited mother. Through his eyes we witness his long-dead father, a brother coming to terms with his service in Vietnam, baseball games, and birthday pumpkins. In this bracingly personal and frankly funny play, Cain shows us why the details in our lives matter.

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 3/22/24 – Keep your eyes peeled for my preview posts on my website and social media if you want earlier notification of shows I’ve seen. Get your tickets now since it closes this weekend on 4/20/24!

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No

Defined Plot/Storyline: Not really. It was more a collection of flashbacks.

Equity Actors: 2

Total Number of Actors: 4

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Was there an intermission? Yes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No

Rant(s)

• Physician Coat Length: If an actor portrays a physician (even an intern or resident), they shouldn’t wear a hip-length coat. Only health care professional students (like medical school or pharmacy school students) wear white coats that short. It’s surprising how many theatres incorrectly dress their physicians as if they were medical students.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

• Moral of the Story: What was the message the playwright was trying to convey? “Aging sucks?”
• Bible Reference: Why was the bible mentioned in the play’s title? The narrator briefly touched on it, but it seemed like a far-reaching connection. There were random biblical references through the play like “Do you know what commandment follows ‘Honor your father and mother?’ ‘Thou shalt not kill.'” But the religious references were too few to merit mentioning “bible” in the title. The play’s title attracts Christian audiences to buy tickets, but the script ultimately doesn’t deliver enough religious themes. At the same time, the play’s title deters secular audiences from attending the show. This weird religiously-themed title reminds me of A Case for the Existence of God.

Theatre Company: Taproot Theatre

Venue: Jewell Mainstage at Taproot Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 204 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103

Price: Medium

Tickets: https://taproottheatre.org/shows/2024/how-to-write-a-new-book-for-the-bible/

Dates: March 20, 2024 – April 20, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid lot or usually-free street parking. I always find free street parking on Greenwood Ave just South of the theatre.

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:

• Instagram
• TikTok
• X (Formerly “Twitter”)
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Threads

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

• https://taproottheatre.org/shows/2024/how-to-write-a-new-book-for-the-bible/
• Program

Pictures: See pictures below by Robert Wade.