A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Sherlock Holmes and the Giant Rat of Sumatra

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  8w, 7m

Book by Tim Kelly
Music and Lyrics by Jack Sharkey
Suggested by the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

This engaging Victorian spoof is a mirthful Sherlock Holmes adventure involving a heavily-veiled damsel, Mata Hari, Jack the Ripper, Queen Victoria, the beautiful Lady Fitzroy, Mrs. Hudson, Inspector Lestrade and, of course, the evil Professor Moriarty.

Sherlock Holmes and the Giant Rat of Sumatra

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    8w, 7m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptations (Literature), Parody / Spoof
  • Suggested Use
    • Cutting Approved for Competition
    • Competition or audition material
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary
There was only one Sherlock Holmes story that Dr. Watson never wrote down – “The Giant Rat of Sumatra” – and the explanation of why it was never captured on paper is the plot of this engaging Victorian spoof. It begins with a heavily-veiled damsel (what else?) arriving at 221B Baker Street in need of the great detective's help. What follows is a mirthful adventure involving  Mata Hari, Jack the Ripper, Queen Victoria, the beautiful Lady Fitzroy, Mrs. Hudson, Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard and, of course, the evil Professor Moriarty. A jewelled dagger, Miniature Chamber, opium den, some immobilizing gas and a hideous idol are all part of the merriment, as the mystery leads from the London docks to Regent's Park.
History
Sherlock Holmes and the Giant Rat of Sumatra premiered at The Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville Theatre in Moorpark, California on December 31, 1986.

JOHN H. WATSON, M.D. – Writer of Sherlock Holmes stories
SHERLOCK HOLMES – Consulting detective
VICIOUS-LOOKING RASCAL – Moriarty's henchman
PROFESSOR MORIARTY – The “Napoleon of crime”
NEWSBOY – Gets around
HUDSON – Holmes and Watson’s landlady
INSPECTOR LESTRADE – Of Scotland Yard
ISADORA DE MERVILLE – Damsel in distress
LADY SYBIL FITZROY – Beautiful aristocrat
DELIA – Lady Fitzroy’s paid companion
LIEUTENANT MICHAEL MOCKTURTLE – A scoundrel, but handsome
OOLONG – Exotic young beauty, dangerous
MRS. WARREN – Of fashionable society
POLICEMAN – A London Bobby
LANALUNI – A Hawaiian Hotcha
MING CHOY – A Eurasian Yummy
MAHARAJAH – An important Pooh-Bah
QUEEN VICTORIA – Rules Britannia

ENSEMBLE of Londoners and others

Flexible chorus.

  • Time Period Victorian (British and American)
  • Setting London during Queen Victoria’s Glorious Reign.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Physical Comedy
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol
    • Drugs

Media

“Zany... will keep you dizzy and exhausted from laughter!” – Fillmore Herald

“Another winner from the masters of musical nonsense, Tim Kelly and Jack Sharkey.”

“This zany musical is – fun! Will keep you dizzy and exhausted from laughter.” – Fillmore Herald

Music

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Piano Only
  • Chorus Size Medium

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
1 Piano-Conductor score
15 vocal books
This title is orchestrated for Piano Only

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Authors

Author

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Tim Kelly

Kelly was born in Saugus, Massachusetts on October 2, 1932. He graduated from Emerson College with a bachelor's degree and received a masters degree in play-writing from Yale University. His first stage play was Widow's Walk, published in the 1960s. At the same time, three of ...
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Jack Sharkey

Jack Sharkey (1931-1992) was born on May 6, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. He began writing when he was 10 years old. He graduated from college with a BA in Creative Writing and taught school from 1953 to 1955. In mid-1955, Mr. Sharkey enlisted in the Army, serving at Sandia Base ...

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