September, 1901. Fresh from a run of more than 260 performances in New
York, the play, Sherlock Holmes, opens at London's Lyceum Theatre. In
attendance are Mrs. Hudson, Dr. Watson and Holmes, the renowned
detective attending in disguise, concerned that he is somewhat too
renowned and thereby likely to be pestered for his opinion about a play
he is determined to detest. As it turns out, his fears are unfounded.
There is no opportunity to criticize, or even witness the play. Before
the curtain goes up, Holmes will be called backstage to investigate the
murder of the play's wardrobe mistress. As always, the figurehead of the
Baker Street trio is mistaken for its true leader. Not to fear, Mrs.
Hudson is on the case. She and her colleagues will have to sort through
a range of suspects, including actors seeking more than cleaned and
pressed costumes from the young woman, a landlord upset about the woman
minding his questionable business, and members of the anarchist movement
suspicious about her professed allegiance to their cause. In the course
of the investigation, Mrs. Hudson will receive assistance from the
author of the play's first draft, Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle, and will
provide assistance to the juvenile actor playing the role of pageboy,
Master Charles Chaplin.