Sherlocking in Grapevine, Texas
By Don Hobbs

I was in San Diego last week, working in the office. We have a new software release that we will be introducing at the Radiologic Society of North America next week in Chicago. The R.S.N.A. as it is known as, is the largest trade show in the world. Every vendor in the world that has anything dealing with radiology, no matter how remotely will be there. So will I. I leave the day after Thanksgiving and I am there until the next Friday. I knew my travel schedule months ago and for this reason, I chose regretfully not to attend Gillette To Brett II over the weekend in Indianapolis. My travel scheduled also caused me to miss Gillette To Brett I, so I am still sadly batting 0000. I would love to have attended. Early reports give this year's event two-thumbs up.

My weekend was not a total Sherlockian void. The Texas Radio Theatre Company gave a performance at the Grapevine Public Library of "Sherlock Holmes and the Final Problem." Being born in the era of television, I missed out on listening to the radio shows. Radios in my lifetime have been a source of music. This group of volunteer performers read the script and incorporates "commercials" and their sponsors in between acts. The 50 or so in the audience applauded enthusiastically each time they were cued to do so. The illusion of attending a "Live Radio Broadcast" creates a lively mood for the audience and the timing of the eight performers delighted them as they shared just four microphones. Each performer returned their seat when not speaking.

The radio-play was adapted by Julie Barrett and directed by Richard Frohlich. Mr. Frohlich also manned the soundboard. The very capable announcer Mr. Ken Raney was equally up to the task of live sound effects. David Grant played Sherlock Holmes with the right air of self-assurance and Robert Clover Brown's Dr. Watson was played as a serious role and not as a Nigel Bruce clone. Spencer Prokop read the lines of Moriarty with a reptilian hiss and a sneer on his face that a radio listener would have been able to sense.

The rest of the supporting cast included Margot Copel as an assassin and as Frau Steiler; Sheela Kadam as Ivy and Mary Watson; Richard Milla as a porter and an Alpine youth; and Bryan Lockett as an Inspector, a policeman, and Kuster. The three-act play and intermission ran just about an hour and a half. The Texas Radio Theatre Company have presented several other Sherlockian play and offered recordings of a couple of them. They have a website if anyone is interested in getting on their mailing list. http://www.texasradiotheatre.com/html/Home.htm

The company works for donations. The performance took everyone back to an era where one's imagination created the images. Joyce poked me a couple of times, thinking I was asleep but I wasn't. I closed my eyes envisioned my own scenes. I recalled my own trek up Reichenbach Fall as the final problem between Holmes and Moriarty resolved itself on the stage in front of me. I was wrapped up in the moment. It was an enjoyable moment, too. I hope every Sherlockian has the opportunity to see a radio play, with their eyes either open or shut.

Happy Collecting!!