This weekend, a mystery will be unraveled at Merrillville High School with two young women leading the way. The Thespian Troupe is performing Miss Holmes, a feminist take on Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, taking place in Victorian-era London.
Mr. Thomas Mackey, the theatre teacher at MHS, sees this play as an opportunity for his female students to have an opportunity to succeed.
“Sherlock Holmes is a classic character, I thought it would be fun to do the story with a twist,” he said, “We have a lot of very strong female performers so I knew I would need something that could showcase a lot of talent.”
Cast and crew have been working for weeks in preparation for this week’s opening, with many new members joining the group.
“There are many people who have struggled to catch on with how we operate, which has led to some lost time in the rehearsal process, but one great success is just the sheer number of people who have decided to take part in this production,” Mr Mackey said.
Mr Mackey points out that there are many critical pieces to the flow of the play, and has praise for the entirety of his play’s crew.
“There are some actors you see a lot, so by extension they have more to practice,” he said, “but there are also actors who are impactful without having the quantity of stage time. We can’t forget about the tech and design team, who have put together a wonderful world for the play to take place in.”
Senior Jamya Crockett finds herself in the middle of everything, as lead role Miss Holmes.
“I’m like the main puzzle piece to it all being put together, but there’s pressure of being the main role with everyone relying on me to be a leader and do well,” she said.
She also sees herself reflected in her role, relating to the actions by Miss Holmes and the relationship dynamic between Holmes and Watson.
“It’s like, that’s something I would do. And it’s like, so funny, and I love it. So yeah, I would say I can see myself doing something that Sherlock does,” Jamya said. “Our relationship, as Sherlock and Watson, I find enjoyable. I find it so comforting because it’s like that one person you can just be vulnerable with.”
Miss Holmes has been interesting for Jamya to emulate..
“She’s a very interesting piece of character, because she’s not like, within the social norm. She’s sort of an outcast, she’s very weird, and I like it.”
Her partner in crime, Sophomore Jahlia Palega, was surprised to be cast as Dorothy Watson, but was motivated for the role.
“I was scared, very nervous, it’s a lot of work,” she said. “Being Dorothy is a lot of work because she talks a lot and has a lot of professional medical talk because she’s a doctor, so I have to remember all of the medical things she does.”
Jahlia also appreciates her character’s work ethic.
“My character wants to make a difference. People should treat women how they treat men, especially in a medical setting. So it is very fun, but it is very stressful.”
Performing in a play set in the 1800s posed some specific challenges, especially for the female characters. “I have to always stand straight, I can’t cross my legs when I sit down, I can’t sit on a chair properly. I have to sit on the edge of a chair. It’s so annoying. But . . . I have to make sure I don’t feel like I’m from this time.”
Jahlia believes that even in her day-to-day life, Dorothy finds a way to come out.
“The amount of times I go into a British accent in my day to day, or I’ll sit on the edge of a seat super properly. Life is crazy,” Jahlia said.
