Contributed THE GAME IS AFOOT – John E. Reilly is set to return Saturday to the Cloak & Dagger On the Air stage with a portrayal of Sherlock Holmes as part of the theater group's latest live audio drama adaptations of two classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle short stories.

WEIRTON – The Great Detective is set to return to the stage this weekend, as Cloak & Dagger On the Air brings Sherlock Holmes to life in its latest adaptations of the stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Performed as a live audio drama, the production of Cloak & Dagger On the Air Presents “Resident Patients and Greek Interpreters” will be presented at 4 p.m., Saturday at the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau, with the return of John E. Reilly as Sherlock Holmes and Robert J. Gaudio as Dr. John Watson, characters the local veteran actors have portrayed with the theater group since 2018.

Doors open at 3:30 p.m., and there is no charge to attend although donations will be accepted.

Pete Fernbaugh, creator and head writer of Cloak & Dagger On the Air, provides the adaptations of “The Adventure of the Resident Patient” and “The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter,” from the short-story collection “The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.”

“Ever since we began our journey through the Conan Doyle Holmes stories, audiences have frequently expressed their love of John and Bob in these roles,” Fernbaugh said. “Both men bring a great deal of intelligence and thought to the characters. I’ve never enjoyed portrayals of Holmes where he’s outlandishly eccentric, nor do I enjoy depictions of Watson where he’s played as a bumbling, stumbling stooge.

“Watson represents the reader — intelligent, curious, and educated — yet unobservant of the little details in everyday life that frequently elude us. Holmes represents the geniuses, who see life through a different lens than the rest of us, yet often struggle with the necessary qualities and virtues that enable a person to connect with the world around them. John and Bob invest these characters with that humanity. Writing for them and directing them is simply a pleasure.”

“Resident Patient” and “Greek Interpreter” were written at a time when Conan Doyle was grappling with the fame that his creations had brought him, Fernbaugh added. He was burnt out and depressed by the lack of reception his serious historical novels “Micah Clarke” and “The White Company” had received.

In an effort to break free from Holmes, Conan Doyle had raised his fee to The Strand magazine, the original publishers of these stories. He felt trapped when the magazine promptly agreed to his increased rate. As he neared the end of this second cycle of 12 stories, the author began to plot Holmes’ demise.

“However, these stories show no sign of burnout,” Fernbaugh said. “Resident Patient is a classic locked-room mystery, and Greek Interpreter features the debut of Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s older brother who is described as being more intelligent than Holmes, but lazier. He’s a delightful addition to the Holmes canon.”

In addition to Reilly and Gaudio, the performance will feature other recurring members of acting troupe The Wayward Saints: Rob DeSantis, David Gaudio, Noah Hilton, Jeffrey Holmes, Karissa Martin, and Ralph Parissi.

Making his debut with the troupe is Bill Deerfield, another veteran actor. Classical musician Roberta Mizok Fedoush will provide the score, featuring works by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Satie, among others. Sound effects will be created by The Holy Foley Molies.

For those who can’t make it in-person, Cloak & Dagger On the Air presents Holmes & Watson in “Resident Patients & Greek Interpreters” will be livestreamed via The Ohio Valley Cloak & Dagger Company Facebook page.