ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Township High School Theater Company presents Whistling in the Dark: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure, adapted by Rockford playwright, Margaret Raether.
Raether is a published playwright whose plays have been performed through the U.S. as well as in England and Canada.  A founding member of Artists’ Ensemble Theatre, most of Raether’s plays have debuted either at Artists’ Ensemble or at New American Theater, where she spent two seasons as Playwright in Residence.
She has been a Sherlock Holmes fan since eighth grade and is delighted to put “The Master” center stage in her play.
RTHS Theater Director Amy Creuziger said, “Margaret’s plays are generally pounded out late at night while peering around a cat that likes to sit in front of her monitor.”
Sherlock Holmes’s quirks have led many, like Raether, to view the character as one possibly on the Autism/Asperger’s spectrum. That is not the focus of her play.
“It’s a mystery; a fun adventure with familiar and amusing characters we enjoy,” Creuziger added.
In Raether’s adaptation, Holmes and Watson must solve a locked room murder before the killer strikes again…Two years ago, Julia awoke to hear someone whistling in the night. However, the corridor was empty. This happened repeatedly until Julia’s death, under mysterious circumstances, inside a locked room.
Last night, her younger sister, Helen, awoke to the sound of whistling in the dark… Helen lays her case before the gentlemen residing at 221B Baker Street. Now they are on their way to crumbling manor house in the country where they will lay a trap for a murderer, with their client as bait.

Holmes and Watson are played by Joe Worthington and Nikos Konstans. The other 17 characters in the play are portrayed by Nephertiti Valle, Jessie Ellis, Mallory Leininger, Baxter Konstans and Xavier Arriaga, changing costumes, accents, and occasionally gender, in rapid and hilarious sequence.
Cast
Holmes: Joe Worthington       
Watson: Nikos Konstans
Understudy: Ray Antolik
Character actors: Jessie Ellis, Mallory Leininger, Nephy Valle, Baxter Konstans and Xavier Arriaga
Production Stage Managers: Ashley Ackerman and Lauren Ponto
Crew chairs
Lillian Robertson – Costumes
Nick Whisman and Jacob Childers - Lighting
Sarah Does - Sound
Ava Coglianese - Props
Matthew Malaker - Set
Crew members
Crew members include: Victor Tenorio, Grace Yates, Vanessa Aviolo, Carl Hanson, Lila Roush, Najwa Morrar, Faith Fitch, Amber Fitch, Morgan Haas, Anna Roush, Anakin Weston, Xavier Arriaga, Mallory Leininger, Raymond Antolik, Emily Kessen and Nathalie Herrera.
“Whistling in the Dark: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure” performs April 12, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. on stage at RTHS and is suitable for ages 10 and older. Tickets are $2 for all teachers and students. General admission is $5. Tickets are available at the door.