Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Weekend
Who-dun-it? Use your sleuthing skills to discover the guilty party. The game is afoot!
Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Weekend returns to Cambridge Ohio November 7-8. This year’s “Sherlock Holmes and Problem of the Two-Faced Spector” is the 9th Holmes inspired play cleverly written by local playwright, Anne Chlovechok.
Fictional Detective Sherlock Holmes is well known for his ability to solve mysteries with the help of his partner, Dr. John Watson. Holmes is famous for his logical reasoning and drawing conclusions from minute details that others miss. Watson is his intelligent loyal friend and assistant, who doesn’t have the ability to see the fine points.
The idea for a Sherlock Holmes Weekend developed from a school assignment given to Janine Bock’s daughter, LeeAnn, by Mary Ann Wilson at St. Benedict in 2003. She was to do a report on “The Hound of the Baskervilles” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Turned out that Janine got hooked on Sherlock Holmes and read all the stories about him. She even got her husband interested.
Before you know it, Jim and Janine Bock were headed to Cape May, New Jersey in 2008 for a Sherlock Holmes Weekend. They stayed in a beautiful Victorian hotel and dressed in Victorian fashion.
When they returned to Cambridge, the Dickens Victorian scenes were appearing along Wheeling Avenue. The Sherlock Holmes sagas take place in Victorian times about the same time as tales of Charles Dickens plus there were many beautiful Victorian buildings downtown. Janine told Jim and LeeAnn. “I think we can do a Sherlock Holmes Weekend here in Cambridge.”
On the way home, Janine called Anne Chlovechok, a newspaper reporter, and was telling her about the exciting weekend. “Anne, you should write a play about Sherlock Holmes.”
Anne had never written a play before, so this was a surprise. After careful consideration, the two of them began planning for a January production with help from friends at Cape May.
At that time, St. Benedict was needing a fundraiser to send their junior high students to Washington, D.C. every other year for a field trip. The parents all chipped in to help. Some were actors in the play, others worked on scenery, and several prepared the food for the guests. That first play, “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Taylor Tontine,” took place in St. Benedict’s Social Hall in 2010. An enthusiastic group had been organized.
Publicity became an important issue and Debbie Robinson from the VCB and Fran Taylor from Main Street were asked to help get the word out. Jonett Haberfield at Taste of Ohio helped by setting up a place to buy tickets on her website. Gift bags were organized. That first year 36 people decided to become sleuths.
During the second year of the Sherlock Holmes Weekend, they decided to perform all three acts for the public at CPAC. The venue was switched from St. Benedict to CPAC for the entire weekend in 2019 and in 2020 to Pritchard-Laughlin Civic Center, where is it still held today.
Throughout the years, many of the same people have been involved in the production. Of course, Anne Chlovechok and Janine Bock work in some capacity every year, with Anne writing and directing all the shows, and Janine producing. Katrina Mazaher, Jeff Ricketts, and Dick Wayt were also part of all eight shows. Debbie Robinson still does their publicity. Mitch Mazaher was Sherlock Holmes that first year and will be performing that same role this year in “Sherlock Holmes and Problem of the Two-Faced Spector.”
When Anne was questioned about how she gets the ideas for the plays she writes, she responded, “Often I get an idea during the show when something happens or someone makes a comment. I write lines to fit the person playing the part and always like to add a little humor.”
Each year, the game’s afoot when Act I takes place on Friday evening so participants can meet all the characters who will entertain them for the weekend. Guests enjoy mingling and meeting the playwright with heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts, coffee, and teas. Cash bar is available. It’s a great time to begin forming theories as they search the Clue Sheet with a map showing the location of all the clues.
Saturday morning brings more drama and a hearty brunch with Act II. In the afternoon, time is spent chasing clues in downtown Cambridge visiting historic Victorian homes, businesses and the Dickens characters themselves. Sleuths may encounter Holmes and Watson on their quest for clues as they enjoy a self-guided tour. Clue Sheets are completed during the tour as each person develops their own theories. The Clue Sheets are turned in for grading before Act III, where the answers to all questions will be revealed.
Mystery is solved! After Act III on Saturday evening enjoy an assortment of desserts, coffee, and teas. One lucky detective will walk away with the grand prize of $250. A prize is awarded for the best Victorian costume and for those who have traveled the farthest. There’s even a prize for “The Clueless Wonder,” who didn’t have many good answers on their Clue Sheet.
This year “Sherlock Holmes and the Problem of the Two-Faced Specter” will be presented at Pritchard-Laughlin Civic Center on November 7-8 for those striving to be top-notch detectives and solve the mystery of who-dun-it.
Tickets are available for the Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Weekend at VisitGuernseyCounty.com under Events, Sherlock Holmes. Last year nearly 60 people enjoyed the role of detective.
If you want to see the entire play the following weekend, Friday and Saturday, November 14 and 15 at 7 pm, or on Sunday, November 16 at 3 pm, call Pritchard-Laughlin Civic Center at 740-439-7009. Tickets will be available at the door.
Put on your detective hat to discover why Holmes and Watson have been called from London to Cambridge to find out why the Cambridge Police Chief has been acting very strangely. Bring a friend, a magnifying glass, and a heightened sense of deduction to the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center to uncover the mystery.
Gypsy Road Trip 