World Premiere of Mysterious Circumstances at Geffen Playhouse

Inspired by The New Yorker article “Mysterious Circumstances: The Strange Death of a Sherlock Homes Fanatic,” “Mysterious Circumstances” at the Geffen Playhouse is part comedy, part mystery and part psychology.

The truth is often stranger then fiction and this play delves into the true mystery of the death of Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle expert and collector Richard Lancelyn Green (Alan Tudyk). Was it a suicide or a murder? Who better to solve the case than Sherlock himself, who we get to witness as the play transcends time periods and includes multiple fast costume changes.

Green’s sole existence lies in finding a lost box containing Arthur Conon Doyle’s letters, unpublished stories and an autobiography. There are other collectors looking for the box including the American played by Hugo Armstrong. Green is contacted by Arthur Conon Doyle’s daughter, Dame Jean (Helen Sadler), who he befriends before his untimely death.

Tudyk glides seamlessly between two roles, the lonely obsessive Green and the narcissistic clever Sherlock Holmes and shines both at sad introspective heartbreaking monologues from Green and witty banter with Watson as Holmes.

Equally good is Austin Durant as Conan Doyle, both funny when bickering with his agent and serious and melancholy when struggling to deal with his wife’s (also played by Sadler) terminal illness. Ramez Monsef also stands out as both sidekick Watson and as Green’s short love affair.

The opening vertical drone view of a dead Green on an oriental rug among dozens of books and artifacts sets the stage for Matt Shakman’s creative direction and Brett J. Banakis’ outstanding set design.

“Mysterious Circumstances" runs through July 14 at Geffen Playhouse. Tickets at www.geffenplayhouse.org.