Cover to Original Broadway Cast RecordingBAKER STREET

A Musical Adventure of Sherlock Holmes in 2 acts, a prologue and 16 Scenes: Book by Jerome J. Coopersmith; Music and Lyrics by Marian Grudeff & Raymond Jessel; Adapted from stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Original Production Directed by Harold Prince
Produced for the Broadway Stage by Alexander H. Cohen
Production presented by permission of the Estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Broadway Theatre - New York - 16 February 1965: transferred to the Martin Beck Theatre closing 14 November 1965. (313 perfs)

This musical has as its central character the man who is, without doubt, the most famous fictional detective of them all, Sherlock Holmes. Join us as Holmes, assisted by his redoutable colleague, Watson and a band of street urchins known as the Baker Street Irregulars, uses his phenomenal intellect to defeat a cunning and devious plot hatched by that arch-villain and master of disguise, Professor Moriarty.

Synopsis

Baker Street is an evening with Sherlock Holmes—a sequence of events that begins with an attempt on the master sleuth's life. The bullet fells a dummy, and Holmes appears from underneath a beggar's disguise to accost his would-be killer. Next it is a quest for love letters, which brings him in contact with one of the rare Holmes romantic interests, actress Irene Adler. Beneath all this diversion Holmes begins to sense an underlying plot to keep him occupied while something bigger is taking place. Holmes and Irene embark, disguised once again, on a search of London's underworld. They are getting too close to Professor Moriarty's plot to steal the Crown Jewels.

Holmes is captured, but Irene escapes with the aid of a Holmes agent, who is then killed. The vicious Professor also captures Dr. Watson and leaves them to be destroyed by a tamper-proof bomb. Irene manages to get the word of Holmes's danger to the Baker Street Irregulars, a band of teen-age boys that he employs from time to time. They come to his aid moments before the bomb is to go off. Once freed, Holmes quickly surveys the device and discovers a way to keep it from going off.

He tracks down Moriarty on the Cliffs of Dover and engages the Professor in hand-to-hand combat. The Professor is overcome and falls from the foggy heights. Holmes's next deduction is the hideout where the jewels are hidden. He arrives there with the police, who capture Moriarty's gang and recover the gems.

CAST

Male - 14+ Female - 4+ Children - 4 (The Irregulars)

CAST (in order of appearance):

The Three Killers; Tavern Singer; Dancers; Singers; Plus a large Dancing & Singing Ensemble

Scenes and Settings

The action takes place in and around London in 1897, the year in which England celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria.

Prologue: Baker Street, London.

Act 1

Scene 1: The Baker Street flat.
Scene 2: The stage of the Theatre Royal.
Scene 3: Backstage at the Theatre Royal.
Scene 4: An alley in Baker Street.
Scene 5: Irene's flat.
Scene 6: The Baker Street flat.
Scene 7: The London underworld.
Scene 8: Moriarty's ship.

Act 2

Scene 1: A street in London.
Scene 2: Moriarty's ship.
Scene 3: Interior of a carriage.
Scene 4: The cliffs of Dover.
Scene 5: A part of London.
Scene 6: The Baker Street flat.
Scene 7: A hall in London.
Scene 8: Baker Street.

Musical Numbers:

  1. Sherlock HolmesIt's So Simple - Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Captain Gregg, Inspector Lestrade
  2. I'm in London Again - Irene
  3. Leave It to Us, Guv - Wiggins, the Irregulars (Male Dancers)
  4. Letters - Irene
  5. Cold Clear World - Sherlock Holmes
  6. Finding Words for Spring - Irene
  7. What a Night This Is Going to Be - Sherlock Holmes, Irene, Dr. Watson, Daisy
  8. London Underworld (Ballet) - Company
  9. I Shall Miss You - Professor Moriarty
  10. Roof Space - Wiggins, the Irregulars (Male Dancers)
  11. A Married Man - Dr. Watson
  12. I'd Do It Again - Irene
  13. Pursuit - Sherlock Holmes
  14. Jewelry - Baxter, Criminals (Ensemble)

ORCHESTRATION

Violin: Viola: Cello: Bass: Reed 1, 2, 3 & 4:Trumpet 1, 2 & 3: Trombone 1, 2 & 3: Percussion 1 & 2: Piano & Celeste: Organ: Harp: Guitar 1 & 2: Banjo: Mandolin

 

Original Broadway Cast Recording