Book excerpt: Sherlock Holmes has been a beloved character from his first story, and his mystique endures to the modern age in print, on screen - but he has had a long life in the theatre as well. Where did it begin? What are the themes, stories, and characterizations that make his stage presence unique and just as enduring? Follow his trail on the stage as author Alexandra Kitty curates his fascinating theatrical world throughout the decades: from unlikely Off-Broadway musicals to lauded slapstick comedies, to more traditional and gripping portrayals of his iconic stories and new incarnations. How does the world's greatest detective fare in the theatre? The results are always shocking, but never disappointing.