A Sherlock Holmes Mystery One-Act Play
Sherlock Holmes knows no more than you do, my dear Reader, but he may (or may not) be more adept at putting the clues together.
(Full disclosure: I had the basic elements of this play in mind long ago. I can’t say what triggered putting these elements in a Sherlock Holmes context except that I’ve always harbored a kinship with his character. In any case, when I started this project in early October, I was entirely unaware that a new Sherlock Holmes movie was forthcoming.)
The Church of St. Ayn Deconsecrated
word count: 2,116
The two faces of Ayn Rand critiqued. One found attractive. The other less so.
Excerpt Four of Stelzer’s Travels
word count: 2,499
Much to his surprise, David Stelzer finds himself on the way to Planet Luxenben.
Excerpt Three from Stelzer’s Travels
Word count: 2067
Stelzer unknowingly takes his first step off earth.
Excerpt Two from Stelzer’s Travels
Word Count: 4554
A discussion on Luxenben of the shortcomings of representative democracy and how they were overcome on this enlightened planet.
Excerpt One from Stelzer’s Travels
Word count: 817
Upon his arrival on Planet Luxenben, David Stelzer is committed by the authorities to a zoological garden that houses their collection of specimens gathered from planets throughout the galaxy. The particular section to which Stelzer is assigned is devoted to creatures of higher intelligence all of whom, fortunately, speak English. Our Earthling finds his accommodations entirely suitable. His private room is comfortable; the food, excellent; his treatment by the zoo’s curators, courteous; his duties, minimal; and his fellow inmates, on the whole, friendly if biologically diverse. Within a matter of weeks, Stelzer makes friends with his housekeeper, a good-hearted, stork-like creature named Matilda. Lodged in the married couples section of Matilda’s dormitory is a couple, Greta and Eddie, who bear a striking resemblance to groundhogs. In this segment, Stelzer and Matilda attend a pageant on the zoo’s grounds. Greta and Eddie are also in the audience. The excerpted segment takes place during one of the show’s intermissions.
A Night at the Theater
Word count: 2878
The story begins…
Adrian Stoddard devoted his deductive skills to the figure ahead of him with an intensity that rivaled that of Sherlock Holmes during his most critical investigations. Unlike the conclusions invariably reached by the famous detective, however, Adrian’s were, in this case, altogether favorable. There was, to begin with, a tidy, red-belted waist; compact, gym-exercised hips; a dress only slightly-and certainly forgivably-short; and clean-shaven, bare legs supported on sensible platforms. Her blouse suggested JP Penny, but her seductively-bouncing, spiral-curled auburn hair bespoke an expensive coiffure. After but a moment’s contemplation, Adrian resolved the apparent contradiction to his satisfaction. Assuming (he could not be sure) that she was as attractive fore as aft, then whatever was required to frame her face to its best advantage was money well spent. And being a practical girl of limited means, she sensibly elected to forgo expensive blouses on the grounds that her bust line could speak for itself.