Goshen High School's many Sherlocks hit the stage this weekend

Nov. 15—GOSHEN — Goshen High School's fall play is "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," by Jon Jory.

The show features four abridged versions of classic Holmes tales: "The Adventures of the Blue Carbuncle," "The Five Orange Pips," "The Adventures of the Devil's Feet," and "Adventures of the Copper Beaches."

Each of the Holmes and Watson characters is played by a different student, and many students have more than one role.

"All of the kids get a really good chance to put their own spin on Sherlock and Watson, who are pretty titular and iconic characters," said GHS English teacher and play director Paige Pobocik. "They're able to have a lot of fun with making him a little goofy and having a little more fun, as compared to a little more stuck up and like 'I know everything and you are lesser than me.'"

Antonio Perez, a senior, is one of the four Holmes. He's the last Holmes of the show, but he also plays a client.

"It's really interesting because every scene is its own little vignette," Perez said.

Perez said his Sherlock comes at a pivotal point in the detective's journey.

"At this point in the story, he's not getting any cases that he's really interested in, and so he just kind of feels defeated," Perez explained. "But one case that comes to him that doesn't feel very interesting ends up being something way bigger for him, so he starts to get his groove back. I try to portray that in my Sherlock. ... It's a lot of fun."

Perez is one of 18 students performing in the show, which also boasts a small backstage crew.

Actors also aren't bound by gender or ethnicity, with women playing Holmes and Watson, and cast members of all ethnicities playing all manner of characters.

"Yeah, it's kind of a serious show and there's not a whole lot of shenanigans and high jinx, but they can bring their own individual personal spin onto things, which has been really fun, and a little bit stressful to watch them do," Pobocik said.

Cast members are Dapsary Amador, Brynn Bowling, Michaela Bowling, Harry Cruz, Chloe Hill, Halaiyah Johnson, Lilliana Ketelhut, Ky'Anna Miles, Selah Miller, Zion Miller, Alyanah Navarro, Antonio Perez, Katherine Pineda, Isaac Studebaker, Ezra Tice, Killian Thaxton, Bee Trinidad and Faye Yoder.

"Everyone really has a chance to get some decent length speaking roles," Pobocik said.

Crew members are Aubrey Dick, Andrea Rodriguez, Adamaris Cortez, Erin Chupp, Rebekah Coyle and Chencho Barron.

The cast also built the set. Pobocik said at Goshen High School, it is tradition for actors to be involved heavily in behind-the-scenes prep.

"We do lots of lifting and lots of getting them real-world building skills," Pobocik said. "For the most part with all of our plays and even with all of our musicals, it's adults doing a lot of the planning and adults doing a lot of the purchasing and the movement pieces, but all of our sets for as long as I can remember are student-built so they're able to take a lot of ownership really from the beginning of the process."

Students also developed promotional designs, posters, show shirts, and programs.

"The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" opens at Goshen High School on Friday. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $8 for adults or $5 for students and seniors and can be purchased at the door or online at https://goshenhighschool.ludus.com/index.php.

Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065.