![\"Paul](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/rt_MG_0173-768x512-e1498153236886.jpg\")
<\/a>Paul Romero, Chairman Barnes, and Richard Large, as the three “Sherlocks.” Photo by Heidi Marie, as is the big one at the top of the page.<\/p><\/div>\n
So, always on a quest for knowledge, and loving \u201cimmersive theatre\u201d events, (as Mystery Lit<\/em> is,) I couldn\u2019t wait to go there. My friend Carolyn was a willing participant, as well, so off we went on Father\u2019s Day night, for this really fun summer adventure.<\/p>\n So, what it is is an outdoor play that\u2019s a mash-up of three Sherlock Holmes tales. Neither of us could figure-out what was going on at first, but we just went with the flow and enjoyed the experience.<\/p>\n Some of you may know that I\u2019m far from outdoorsy, (Private Benjamin<\/em> comes to mind when people think of me in movie terms,) but this event wasn’t much of a problem for me, (outside of the zillions of bugs!) I had heard so many things about the experience and area, but not much of what was portended turned-out to be the case(s.) So, thank goodness you have me<\/em> to break it all down for you!<\/p>\n One view of the Santa Anita Train Depot.<\/p><\/div>\n First of all, yes, it is at the Arboretum, but you see very little of the grounds. This whole show is contained in one small area near, and around, the Train Depot. (And, no, you cannot go into it!) So, there\u2019s not much exploring to be done, which is okay, because there\u2019s no time for it, anyway. (But I did<\/em> see a couple of peacocks roaming around the parking lot, which was really fascinating.)<\/p>\n Why did the peacock cross the road? To see Mystery Lit, of course! (And doesn’t this one look really proud? Loving it!) Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Secondly, even though this is classified as an \u201cimmersive show,\u201d you don\u2019t have to run around following different characters, which I have a feeling that you potential audience members will be relieved to hear. Actually, there\u2019s no running around at all!!! There are two different locations in each half, and they\u2019re all right near each other. So there\u2019s hardly any<\/em> walking, and you don\u2019t have to stand, unless you volunteer to do so. (When they ask for volunteers at the very beginning, do not raise your hand if you\u2019d rather be seated.) In some places, there are only wooden risers, with no backs, of course, but in other places, there are comfortable enough chairs. (I wish I had brought a cushion, though, as some others wisely did that night, so I suggest doing so.) If you need to make sure you\u2019re seated in a chair, just let them know at the beginning and at the scene changes, if need be\u2014the personnel are extremely accommodating. They want to entertain, not torture.<\/p>\n Joe Camareno and Chairman Barnes. Photo by Heidi Marie.<\/p><\/div>\n But there is still uneven terrain in places, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes. (Walking out of the last stop, I almost wound-up having the place renamed the \u201cKaren Salkin Arboretum,\u201d if you get my drift!) And you will<\/em> be outside the entire night, so dress accordingly. (I<\/em> was roasting for a long while, but I heard it can get chilly on some nights, so layers<\/em>, people, layers!)<\/p>\n And, I cannot stress this enough–wear bug spray!!! Loads of it! The producers of the show are missing what could be the biggest revenue grab for them by not selling OFF! at the concession stand. I would have paid them every dime I had for just one shot of it that night! (Do I get a commission for that idea if they start implementing it now<\/em>?!)<\/p>\n And here are the last bits of advice, before I tell you about the actual show<\/em>! To enter the correct area, do not go to the main entrance of the Arboretum.\u00a0 Follow the \u201cMystery Lit\u201d signs to an entrance right beyond, or before, it, (depending on from whence you\u2019re coming.) And the show begins at 8:00PM sharp, so plan to arrive by 7:45, the latest. (The parking lot is right there, and free<\/em>!)<\/p>\n There was a great turn-out the night we saw it, which made the evening even more fun. And the concession stand had the most delicious pumpkin cake, topped with chocolate topping, so Carolyn and I had a good old time!<\/p>\n Eric Keitel and Jena Hunt. Photo by Heidi Marie.<\/p><\/div>\n Now, let me finally tell you about what an entertaining show Holmes, Sherlock, and The Consulting Detective<\/em> is. The story is amusing, and a bit nutty, in a good way. It\u2019s excellently acted by the entire cast, which is sort-of a hard task when audience members are practically right in your face! And the sound system is surprisingly good, especially for being outdoors. (It helped drown out some of the traffic noise because this location is right off the road. At times, I felt a bit like I was in M. Night Shamalyan\u2019s The Village<\/em>, where the families lived in the distant past, right adjacent to modern civilization!)<\/p>\n And I really must laud the actors for being able to wear those heavy costumes in that almost ninety degree heat, without looking the least bit miserable! I would rather have to sit through Showgirls<\/em> ten times in a row than act in those extreme conditions!<\/p>\n Hannah Whiteoak and Chairman Barnes. Photo by Heidi Marie.<\/p><\/div>\n The script for Mystery Lit 2017: Holmes, Sherlock, and The Consulting Detective<\/em> is very interesting, both along the way, and in the conclusion, which was definitely Sherlock Holmes-ian! Just make sure that for that very last location, which is sort-of inside an edifice, (which is really just a facade,) you sit facing the action head-on<\/em>, rather than on either side, if you can. Carolyn and I had to wait for them to bring chairs for us, which meant that we were seated in a place for which the lights were not adjusted. So, we had that brightness in our eyes for that entire scene; we basically just listened<\/em> to the wrap-up instead of seeing<\/em> it.<\/p>\n Paul Romero and Rob Bedall. Photo by Heidi Marie.<\/p><\/div>\n But even with that situation, we enjoyed the ride. It\u2019s one of the most different entertainments I\u2019ve been to in a very long while, and I totally appreciated the journey.<\/p>\n The show itself is only about two hours long, so that means that, depending on when you arrive, you can access the mall that\u2019s right across the road, and make a whole day and night of it! We were early, so we checked it out for a bit, and let me tell you\u2014that gigantic mall is the real<\/em> adventure!!!<\/p>\n And, by the way\u2014you absolutely don\u2019t have to be a fan of Sherlock Holmes to enjoy this Mystery Lit<\/em> show. You can just be someone who fancies a different kind of night out, good theatre, some laughs, an interesting whodunnit, and creativity. And some summer night air!<\/p>\n Mystery Lit 2017: Holmes, Sherlock, and The Consulting Detective<\/em>\u00a0running through July 1, 2017<\/strong> MYSTERY LIT 2017: HOLMES, SHERLOCK, AND THE CONSULTING DETECTIVE I can\u2019t even tell you how long I\u2019ve lived in Los Angeles, (and in this case, \u201ccan\u2019t\u201d means \u201cwon\u2019t,\u201d) and, until someone told me about this show, I had never, ever heard of either the\u00a0Los Angeles County Arboretum or the Santa Anita Train Depot, where Mystery<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Los Angeles County Arboretum, Santa Anita Train Depot<\/strong>
\n 159 S. Baldwin Ave.\u00a0\u00a0 Arcadia \u00a0\u00a0www.unboundproductions.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"