Photos and article by Sylvia Eng.

At the second Sleuth rehearsal the actors have taken the stage for the first time and are getting to know their way around a very cleverly designed stage that fits the entire floor-plan of country home into our Studio Two space. There are living rooms, outdoor spaces, an office and a hallway, marked only by tape on the floor and some of the key props. The scotch glasses are laid out just as perfectly as the array of possible murder weapons. The props combined with the multi-room set has me thinking of another beloved murder mystery, the board game Clue. Maybe you're a dork like me and you also saw Clue the movie until you could recite all the lines by heart, ("I am your signing telegram, BANG!"). Not so much? Well put it on your list of things to do on a rainy afternoon, that is, right after you come out and enjoy Sleuth at The Rose. 

Sleuth is a twisty turny "whodunwhat" and director Robert Woodcock was busy at work that first day with the actors layering innuendo and foreshadowing on top of the quick and witty lines. In a play like this, every glance, raised eyebrow, dramatic pause and body language are what really bring the story to life.  If you feel that you may be the next Sherlock Holmes, be sure to watch every single detail of this show closely (or come see it more than once) to catch all the nuances. Unlike some shows that may benefit from a certain amount of improvisation and looseness, let me assure you that nothing in this show is unintentional. It was fascinating for me to witness a show like this in such an early stage. In about an hour the cast covered less than a page of text as each line was broken down, relevance to future lines and plot twists was discussed and intonation, actions, and props were added.

The time allotted for me to intrude on the process was up and we had only scratched the surface of the play. I had to leave with many more questions than answers. I am already hooked and cannot wait to visit rehearsal again next week to see how the story develops. 

Sleuth opens on July 25 at 7:30PM and will be on stage until August 9. Purchase your tickets today!