Kinetic Has “Sherlock’s Last Case”; “The Gallows” Now Haunting Local Theatres (Wed., 7/15/15)

1) When Arthur Conan Doyle killed off Sherlock Holmes in the 1893 story “The Final Problem,” London went into mourning. Men wore black armbands. Women wept. Angry readers wrote letters demanding a recall, and subsequent stories by Doyle and many other writers have brought the detective back to life. The play Sherlock’s Last Case, by Charles Marowitz, brings him back to death. Or at least to what looks like it, given that this dizzying 1984 sequel was written—how can one say it?—with a forked tongue in both cheeks. Sherlock’s Last Case has Holmes twitting poor Watson until Watson rebels; it has a plot with more twists than Wiz Khalifa’s dreadlocks; and the Kinetic Theatre production has David Whalen playing Sherlock. 8 p.m. Continues through July 26. At the Charity Randall Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial, 4301 Forbes Ave., Oakland. (MV)

2) The Gallows — It wouldn’t be summer without at least one cheapie slasher film, now would it? The Gallows, however, has the potential to be the scariest of all since it’s set in the world of (cue reverb and creepy music) high school theater!!!!!! It’s a “found-footage” horror film (i.e. Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield) written and directed by Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing. Twenty years ago, Beatrice High School puts on a play called “The Gallows,” and wouldn’t you know it, a boy named Charlie dies during the show. (The best of theater is fraught with danger.) Now the school, two decades later, decides to honor Charlie’s memory by re-staging “The Gallows,” and, get ready for a shocker!—people start dying again. (If you ask me, that’s what they get for doing a revival.) Check Fandango for screens and times. (TH)

3) Cappy’s Cafe in Shadyside is holding a Team Trivia contest tonight with Trivia Master John. 9 – 11 p.m. Yuengling draft special is $3 for a 20 oz. brew. 5431 Walnut St.

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