COEUR d'ALENE - Sherlock Holmes was always known as a critical, analytical thinker, the perceptive type.

Mitch Shellman fits that role. Kind of.

"I guess you could say I'm like him. I get good grades in school," he said with a laugh.

Shellman, a sophomore, has the lead role in the Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy's production of "Sherlock Holmes" that will be presented at 7 tonight and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Lake City Playhouse.

With a cast of 25 and a stage crew of 15, the one hour, 45 minute play is billed as having action, drama, romance and comedy that will have the audience booing, hissing and cheering.

Their final rehearsal was Wednesday night and director Tracey Vaughan liked what she saw.

"We are ready to go," she said.

This production of "Sherlock Holmes" is "campy and funny," she said. "It's allowed us to have a lot of fun with it."

Vaughan believes this one will be particularly enjoyable for the audience.

"It's got all the fun of an old-time melodrama where the audience gets to cheer for the hero and boo and hiss at the villain," she said. "It's got some really funny moments."

As most tales of this dogged detective and crime fighter, this involves Holmes, Watson and their archenemy, Professor James Moriarty. This story revolves around a woman, some letters and a prince.

Shellman is looking forward to playing the famous super sleuth.

"I think it's awesome. Sherlock Holmes, everybody knows him. He's just a really fun character to work with," Shellman said.

But Holmes is not an easy character to master

"It's hard, because Sherlock can't show emotion, as much as anybody else. So I have to stay held back, but I also can't be a robot," he said. "It's a fine line I have to draw. But it's really fun to work with. I get moments where I get to be over the top."

Watson is being played by Jacob Crotinger, a freshman at the academy.

The role was filled by Jude Law in the recent movie version of "Sherlock Holmes," who happens to be one of Crotinger's favorite actors.

He likes the role that gives him a chance to crack some jokes while engaging in a battle of wits with the mean Moriarty.

"There's a legacy of Watsons I have to live up to," he said.

Which leads us to Clyde Mooney, a junior who will become Professor Moriarty on the Playhouse stage.

"You get to be very evil," he said, grinning at the chance to be the person he calls the "Napoleon of Crime."

His one regret is that the other actors seem to have the hilarious lines.

"I am really the serious one," Mooney said. "It almost feels out of place at time."

Which didn't keep him from joking when asked why the public should come to the play.

"Action, comedy, drama, romance, just to have a good time - then why you aren't here, we will never know."