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THE CASE OF THE COUNTERFEIT NAPOLEON

SYNOPSIS

ACT I:

London, 1887, a foggy morning on Baker Street (The Cobblestone Streets of London Town). A lady crosses wearing a heavily veiled hat and carrying a large portmanteau. She is followed by the Baker Street Irregulars, a ragtag group of children and teens led by Wiggins. An Italian priest appears and signals to the group; they grab the lady’s bag and start to run off. When a Bobby appears and stops them, one of the Irregulars grabs the hat off the lady, revealing her to be a man. He’s startled and runs away with the Bobby in pursuit. The Irregulars bring the bag to the priest who quickly reveals himself to be Sherlock Holmes. The “lady,” he says, is none other than London’s Napoleon of crime, Professor James Moriarty. Ironically, he opens the bag to find a badly made copy of a bust of Napoleon. Why would anyone with the intelligence and cunning of the Professor steal such a worthless object? As Holmes returns to his Baker Street flat to study the bust, the Irregulars pridefully sing of their exploits (Call On Us). In his apartment, Holmes and his landlady, Mrs. Hudson, are soon joined by Dr. Watson who brings Holmes a note from a lady he met on the street. Watson is flabbergasted to learn that the lady was “not a lady at all…Not even a gentleman.” Holmes amazes Watson with a series of deductions as the doctor stares in awe (Dear Watson). The inspection of the bust is interrupted by the arrival of Lady Cardington. She asks Holmes to help her solve the theft of a bust of Napoleon from her home as the police refuse to get involved in such a petty theft. After her departure, Holmes calls for the Irregulars and offers a reward for finding Moriarty’s hideout. Moriarty is furious that Holmes has discovered he is behind the thefts (Oh, Mister Holmes!). As he rants and raves, he is joined by “Lady Cardington” – actually his cousin Abigail Martin from Chicago. (The real Lady C. has gone to America for the funeral of her brother.) Puzzled about his next move, Moriarty’s plans coalesce with the arrival of Lady C.’s niece Rachel (the Lady’s brother’s daughter from Chicago – who has never met Lady C.). Moriarty convinces her to join the Irregulars and help him get even with Holmes (Partners). She does so and impresses the group by quickly finding Moriarty’s hideout – as he has instructed her to do. The note with the address holds several clues, however, and Holmes immediately realizes Rachel is working for Moriarty (The Truth). Holmes loads his pistol and with Watson by his side, heads for the hideout.

ACT II:

The Cardington house is dark as Moriarty and Abigail sit waiting for Holmes and Watson to arrive. They don’t wait long (It’s A Mystery). Entering the Cardington house through a window, Holmes discovers some ceramic shards on the floor just as he and Watson are surprised by Moriarty and Abigail. They tie up the intruders and head for Baker Street to retrieve the final bust of Napoleon. In the meantime, Rachel has gotten the bust herself to take to Moriarty. The Irregulars stop her, thinking she is going to sell it to the Professor. When one of the group sees Moriarty and Abigail coming, they hide, taking Rachel with them. The Professor reveals how he duped Rachel and they move on to Holmes’ flat. Rachel is crushed (It’s Hard To Know Just Who Your Friends Are). As Moriarty and Abigail return, angry about not getting the bust, the Irregulars hide again just as Holmes and Watson appear and confront them. Abigail is so shocked she drops her shoe. (Holmes has used a shard to cut his rope.). When Moriarty pulls a gun, Rachel steps out and offers him the bust to let the detective go. He takes the bust and, with Rachel as a shield, he and Abigail make their escape. Holmes and Watson retreat to the flat to examine the shoe for clues, leaving the Irregulars to console Rachel (I Had Dreams). As they arrive at the flat, Watson discovers a letter from Mary, forgiving him and asking him to come home. After some thought (Mary), Watson leaves, promising to come by in the morning. Holmes’ careful examination of Abigail’s shoe reveals the location of Moriarty’s new hideout. Holmes leaves a note for Watson with the Irregulars and starts off, a bit hesitantly – Watson’s family life has moved him in a way he seldom allows (Baker Street). Next morning, as Moriarty realizes he has another phony bust, Holmes enters the hideout disguised as a Chicago gangster who is there to collect “the pearl” - or else. Moriarty sets off for Baker Street leaving Abigail behind. Intrigued by the secretive stranger, Abigail makes a play for Holmes (I Like A Quiet Man), finally discovering his true identity. Watson suddenly arrives and takes the surprised Abigail to Scotland Yard as Holmes rushes to Baker Street. When Moriarty arrives at Holmes’ flat, he is surrounded by the Irregulars. Undaunted, he grabs the bust and starts for the door just as Holmes appears. All seems secure when Watson arrives, unwittingly creating enough of a distraction for Moriarty to escape (Reprise, Oh, Mr. Holmes). Although Moriarty has gotten away, he has not succeeded in stealing the black pearl of the Borgia’s, which Holmes retrieves from the Napoleon bust. Rachel will stay for the time being with Mrs. Hudson. Watson and Holmes are finally left alone, and the detective takes down his violin, playing sweetly as the London rain falls.

 

Notes

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THE CASE OF THE COUNTERFEIT NAPOLEON Casting / Vocal Ranges

BOBBY: Traditional generic London policeman Vocal Range: Gb3(Low) – Eb4(High)

SHERLOCK HOLMES Vocal Range: Gb2(Low) – F4(High)

Mid-40’s, curious about everything, a bit hyperactive when on a case. Playing violin when involved in a case relaxes him so he can think. He is a master of disguises. Occasionally introspective and sentimental. Though a bit aloof, he genuinely likes people, especially Watson, Hudson and the Irregulars.

PROFESSOR MORIARTY Vocal Range: Bb2(Low) – E4(High)

Mid-40’s; interested only in his criminal enterprises, at which he is a genius. Resents Holmes because the detective has interfered many times in his activities. This case holds a lucrative promise, so Holmes’ interference ignites a genuine vengeance in him. He is only interested in people who can help him.

WIGGINS Vocal Range: Bb3(Low) – C#5(High)*

12-14 year-old street kid with leadership traits. He is a quick thinker and isvery loyal to Holmes who he sees as his “benefactor”. He is also loyal to thegroup of followers Holmes has designated as the Baker Street Irregulars.

BAKER STREET IRREGULARS: ABCDEF, etc. Vocal Range: Gb3(Low) – Eb4(High)**

There are 7-10 Irregulars in the group. Those with speaking lines are identified in the script by numbers. All are aged 10-14. They can be given names or in the process of rehearsal select their own. They are loyal followers of Wiggins and Holmes. Homeless and family-less, they have developed a mutual trust for each other.

DOCTOR WATSON Vocal Range: Gb3(Low) – Eb4(High)

Mid-40’s. Recently married veteran of the British army stationed mostly in India. He walks with a limp from a war wound. While he does have a medical practice, his real pursuit is chronicling the exploits of his friend Holmes. He is a bit stodgy and stiff. He is fascinated by Holmes’ deductive powers and a bit envious of them.

MRS. HUDSON + Vocal Range: D4(Low) – Eb5(High)

50’s-60’s. The widowed housekeeper for 221-B Baker Street where Holmes is the best-known tenant. She is affable and considerate, kind to all, especially the Irregulars who see her as a kind of mother figure.

Continued… 5

ABIGAIL MARTIN + Vocal Range: A3(Low) – Eb5(High)

30’s-40’s. Distant cousin of Moriarty; she is from Chicago. She has come to London to learn from her famous cousin. Their latest crime is retrieving the black pearl of the Borgias for an Italian crime boss who is offering a fortune for the jewel. She is adept at disguises and accents and knows the value of keeping a secret; sometimes she is slow to catch on to what is happening around her.

RACHEL CARDINGTON Vocal Range: Bb3(Low) – C5(High)

12-14. Rachel is from America. She is recently orphaned after the death of herfather. She has just learned that she has an aunt in London and no other knownrelatives, prompting her to journey alone to England. She arrives naïve andinexperienced meeting who she believes are her Aunt (actually Martin) and hercousin (actually Moriarty). She hopes they will provide her the family sheneeds.

*If the actor’s voice has changed, he can sing an octave lower than written

** Ranges in Cobblestone Streets are: Solos: Db4(Low) – Cb5(High);

Sop. 1: Eb4(Low) – Eb5(High); Sop. 2: Db4(Low) – Eb5(High);

Tenor: Db3(Low) – Eb4(High);

+In the original production the same actor played both Mrs. Hudson and Abigail

NOTE: While there are no TOWNSPEOPLE mentioned in the script, they can be added to lend a sense of community to the street scenes throughout the show and especially in the opening musical number.

 

Notes

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