December 24
From Michael JG Meathook: Sherlock believes he has found his true calling as the world's newest profession: a movie star.
Fluffy white bunnies hopped nonchalantly across the stage. The real live tree branches were arranged with such exactitude that even the animals on set felt at home within their natural woods. With expertly applied greasepaint under a wig of flaxen curls, Sherlock Holmes' metamorphosis was complete. He gave an expansive wave of his arms and with an anguished expression, lamented, most admirably, the folly of love.
"And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays (1)."
The surging crowd scenes of priests and military marching in stringent rows only added to the inspiration as Antony returned to Alexandria in the dramatised play, Anthony and Cleopatra. Holmes made a stunning Cleopatra in his thick makeup and flowing robe tied up with a golden girdle. Although he kept his natural dark hair, he styled it into an elaborate Egyptian design.
His voice swelled with emotion as she cried,
"The crown o' the earth doth melt. My lord!
O, wither'd is the garland of the war,
The soldier's pole is fall'n: young boys and girls
Are level now with men; the odds is gone,
And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon. (2)"
His acting was so clever, so inventive, so varied, so intensely interesting that audiences flocked to his films. He was a star.
The great actor took a bow. His success, first in theatre and then on film was unparalleled. He reached out to shake hands with his admiring fans, murmuring his gratitude demurely. Suddenly someone from behind rudely pushed past. His body shook. He felt himself jostled into the crowd.
Holmes started to panic. He waved his arms in protest against the clamour. Where was his Boswell, his assistant and trusted companion? He felt his throat start to constrict. He strained his neck to look around.
"Holmes, wake up!" Watson gently shook the shoulders of detective.
The sleeping detective opened his eyes and blinked. The sitting room where he'd fallen asleep swirled back into focus. Watson was standing by his side with a worried expression.
"I'm sorry, Watson. I must have been dreaming."
He noticed Watson's frown and quickly added, "It wasn't a nightmare. Just, ah, an unusually vivid dream."
"Oh?" Watson sat down to let Holmes explain.
"I was an actor and made films."
He looked over at Watson who obviously still had questions.
"I was a good actor… very dramatic, I believe."
Watson nodded. "Ah, I see. That would explain the shouts then."
Holmes blushed.
Suddenly the puzzle pieced clicked together in Watson's brain. "You must have been inspired by the Lumière brothers' cinématographe. We just watched their demonstration last week.
Holmes looked over at his friend with a warm smile. "I suppose one could say it was a dream-worthy invention."
(1) Midsummer's Night's Dream by Shakespeare
(2) Antony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare
*The Lumiere brothers' cinématographe was hand-cranked, lightweight (less than 20 pounds [9 kg]), projector. It functioned as a camera and printer as well. The first commercial demonstration was on December 28, 1895 in Paris