By JESSICA NEU
When maybe-a-doctor, but definitely not a Mrs. Joan Watson (Erin Berger), arrives at 221B Baker Street to inquire about an open room, she quickly realizes that she will be sharing a space with an eccentric, sometimes erratic, Russian symphony-loving deductive consultant Shirley/Sherlock Holmes (Chelsea Davis). Directed by Dana Hardy Bingham, Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B is a dark comedy that tells the story of two women who team up to solve a murder mystery in post-pandemic London. A reimagining of Sir Author Conan Doyle’s classic detective tales, this laugh-out-loud play questions whether patterns exist in mysteries or if some things are purely coincidence.
Holmes quickly shows off her detective skills, claiming that profiling Watson is “elementary!” After the two ladies decide to cohabit and we learn of Ms. Watson’s distaste for blood, Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard (Tony Bingham) arrives to ask for Holmes’ help in solving a case. With Watson in tow, the trio arrives at a dirty hotel room. They discover a deceased male in the bathtub. Lestrade concludes it was suicide, but Holmes is not convinced because the letters“RACHE” (which is the German word for revenge) are written in blood on the wall next to the body. Holmes discovers a few other clues and announces that the man was in fact murdered and his name was Joseph Timothy Drebber. S. Watson suggests that the “RACHE” might not be German, but an attempt to write the name Rachel. The case then sends Watson and Holmes on a tailspin of adventures that will keep you guessing and laughing until the mystery is solved.
Davis, as Sherlock, which is French for “Shirley,” is a quick-witted young woman with rapid-fire one-liners, comebacks, and an answer to every question. She is a fierce, powerful feminist who is determined yet emotionally guarded and somewhat neurotic in the best possible way. Berger, by contrast, is slightly confused, exasperated, easily overstimulated, but warm and in search of a friend. She is broken and has come to London to escape the United States but also to reclaim her identity. Early in Act 2, there is a reference to Laverne and Shirley, which perfectly describes this feminist odd couple. As deductive consultants, Holmes and Watson address female burnout, identity crises, and the need for women to navigate the patriarchy carefully.
However, it is Bingham who steals the show as the bumbling, oblivious Lestrade, the captivating narrator, and a hilarious Texas-style politician named Elliot Monk. His accents and demeanor are perfect in each role, and he is the perfect foil to the feminist archetype.
As Monk, Bingham is blackmailed by Irene (pronounced Ireenee) Adler (Elizabeth Glypytis), a temptress vixen who uses her good looks to seduce anyone in her path. Her passion may not always be used for good. Still, she is certain to sensually and comedically charm her way in or out of any room or situation she may find herself in. Rounding out the cast is Olivia Long, who doubles as Mrs. Hudson, the straightforward landlord in Holmes’ and Watson’s building, and Mrs. Drebber, the distraught widow who Holmes and Watson interview as part of the murder investigation.
Together, the actors deliver a show filled with wit and social commentary, most notably tapping into our own desire always to have a neat explanation for any event. We, by nature, often do not want to believe that things happen for no reason and that patterns, although attractive, do not exist. Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B confronts this natural part of the human psyche in a fast-paced feminist lens complete with slapstick antics, quick humor, and sketch-comedy chaos. The cast delivers strong performances that mitigate shortcomings in both the script and the plot, creating a post-pandemic show full of delightful pandemonium.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Little Lake Theatre’s production of Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B runs now to 30, 3026. For tickets and details, visit: https://www.littlelake.org/tickets
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