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SPACE

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Kate Besworth as Sherlock Holmes Photo: David Cooper

Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson– Apt. 2B is playwright Kate Hamill’s spoof on Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary stories of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, who together with his accomplice Dr. John Watson shared digs at 221B Baker Street in London.

The play, that has its first gag in the title, runs at the Gateway Theatre until October 25. Patrons electing to attend the show and then deciding to return to their seats following the intermission, will find a lot to like in the second act. For one thing, the comedy is a little less rushed (or maybe we just got used to the madcap pace of the first act).

There were also some pretty good performances from supporting cast members, Anita Wittenberg and Mark Chavez. The pair drew on characters that Sherlock Holmes devotees will recognize as the Scottish writer’s storied larger-than-life characters like: Irene Adler - an American actress, Mrs. Hudson - Holmes’ landlady and of course, Holmes’ arch nemesis Professor James Moriarty. We also see Rami Kahlon start to hold her own and anchor the play as Dr. Joan Watson.

Anita Wittenberg as Irene Adler Photo: David Cooper

Director Lauren Taylor moves the action along at a brisk pace – perhaps a little too brisk – I sometimes felt that the players were being pushed; like ‘let’s get to the next gag quickly.’ I’m sure it was deliberate that the Sherlock character was the least fun and less to do with Kate Besworth’s high-strung performance. Bosworth’s explanations of her ‘logical conclusions’ may have been “Elementary,” but I found them hurried and confusing.

I certainly didn’t object to the gender switch, but I was less enamored with the time shift from late nineteenth century to present time. While it made for less complicated costume and set design, it gave rise to the abuse of new technology like mobile phones. However, I did find that Emily Dotson’s set of Apt. 2B, that inc even included a life-size skeleton, would have accommodated the nineteenth century Holmes quite happily. Emily Friesen’s befit clothing, especially the nun’s outfits, gave the production a next level of quality.

Kate Hamill did try to channel a deeper subtext of social justice, unfortunately, the context was lost in the script’s lightweight humour.

© 2025 John Anthony Jane