Theater review: ‘Sherlock Holmes: Sign of the Four’

Castaways Repertory Theatre's "Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of the Four" unfortunately embodies nearly all of the negative stereotypes that keep audiences away from community theater.

Here is a cast that has tackled upper- and lower-class British, as well as Punjabi Indian, accents; a script that isn't exactly rife with excitement; and one of the best-loved detectives in litera-ture. Not exactly cutting edge, but a bold choice given the challenges of the script. In the end, the hurdles have proven too great to overcome.

The costumes, by director Zina Bleck and actress Marji Jepperson, are scrumptious, with the exception of the turbans worn by three of the Indian characters and, inexplicably, one of the Brits. The set is beautifully designed by Jarret Baker and gives an immediate sense of place. However, when the stage right door opens, the cast is clearly visible backstage to audience in the center or right-hand set of seats.

The makeup for the Indian characters is dreadful. The actresses look as if someone has rubbed mud, very unevenly, on their faces.

The sole person in the cast who managed to pull off the correct accent was Dan Yount as Dr. Watson. The remainder of the cast has either adopted a crisp American English, a clunky Indian accent, or no attempt at any accent other than their own. Yount offers a grounded and appealing version of Watson.

Despite the lack of accent, Colleen Close is engaging as Miss Mary Morstan and brings vibrancy to the stage. Close and Yount's scenes together are sweet and give some life to the show. Aside from the set and costumes, their scenes are the only things to recommend this produc-tion.

And what of the man himself, Sherlock Holmes? He is played here by Herb Tax, who pontificates and shouts throughout the show.

In an effort to pull off the accent, Tax delivers his lines in a staccato, robotic way that makes the wordy script seem even more so. It is baffling that Tax is continually cast as iconic characters such as "To Kill a Mockingbird's" Atticus Finch; Juror 8, the lynchpin of "12 Angry Men"; and now the estimable Mr. Holmes.

Tax has played all three characters as if they were the same person; there is no variance on the delivery, which has reinvented all three as arrogant and unbearable.

These are respected men whose empathy and power of intellect and reason can persuade the masses to see things from their point of view. In Tax's hands, these beloved characters become caricatures that would make a sane person want to spend as little time in their company as possible.

Mary Jordan has been active in local theatre since 1992.