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REVIEW: Gloucester Stage Company’s ‘Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt 2B’ a puzzling comedy

Posted on September 27 by The Sleepless Critic

Sherlock has always had its passing comical moments.

Though considered a mystery-crime drama, Sherlock Holmes has delved into quirky territory featuring an eccentric lead in Sherlock Homes and his various idiosyncrasies. Holmes is a deductive and egocentric genius who considers emotion irrelevant and crosses paths with Dr. Watson who is reasonable, but also carries emotional weight in various situations. They are both brilliant in their own way and together, a force to be reckoned with.

Gloucester Stage Company’s production of Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B, by playwright Kate Hamill in Gloucester, MA. The production is directed by Rebecca Bradshaw, and stars Erin O’Sullivan and Ms. Sherlock Holmes; Breezy Leigh as Dr. Joan Watson; Stephen Shore as Inspector Lestrade, Elliot Monk, and Others; and Grace Experience as Irene Adler, Mrs. Hudson, and Others. © 2025 Shawn G. Henry • 978-590-4869 GSC-250903-Holmes+Watson_351

Directed by Rebecca Bradshaw, Gloucester Stage Company continues Kate Hamill’s comedic murder mystery spoof Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt 2b live and in person at Gloucester Stage Company in Gloucester, Massachusetts through Saturday, September 27. This wild production features adult humor and is a lengthy two hours and 15 minutes with a 15 minute intermission. Click here for more information and for tickets.

Based on numerous stories and four novels by Sir Author Conan Doyle, the legend of Sherlock Holmes has been adapted many times which includes satire and parodies, but this classic tale tends to be at its best through its thrilling, haunting and suspenseful moments as the mystery unfolds. That is when I think Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt 2B is also at its best.

Set in London in the spring of 2021, Stephen Shore performs multiple roles including a chilling Narrator. As Shore’s face illuminates in an eerie glow while Shore’s charismatic and elegant vocals start to reveal the tale, I was excited for what was in store. Shore is a talented and charismatic presence standing out in this production.

However, even with its scattered suspenseful moments, this production is mostly a quirky pop cultured peppered comedy where freelance detective Sherlock meets Dr. Watson in the contemporary world to solve a mystery.

Kristin Loeffler’s sliding set boasts that classic Sherlock fireplace with twin bookcases, skeleton and wooden doors illuminated by Deb Sullivan’s evocative and ghastly red lighting as well as Julian Crocamo’s ticking and classical sound design.

I appreciated the dynamic between Breezy Leigh as excitable and frank New Yorker Ms. Watson who seems firmly planted in the contemporary world while aside from new age meditation and vaping, Eryn O’Sullivan’s Sherlock seems in every other way from the past rebuffing technology and relying solely on the mind and the written word for everything. O’Sullivan brings an over the top cryptically calm detachment, frequent disdain and pretension while Dr. Watson is so excitable and squeamish, it became difficult to believe that Ms. Watson was ever a level headed doctor.

The production delivers major characters from the classic Sherlock novels featuring some enviable costume selections by Chelsea Kerl, especially displayed in Grace Experience’s red velvet suit and fabulous bejeweled shoes. Portraying multiple roles, Grace Experience zings from a peculiar cockney-accented housekeeper to a bold and clever seductress while having a great time in each swift transformation.

However, I still longed for more thrills and less clutter. Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson Apt. 2b feature a murder mystery, but comedy is king in this production and among so many comedic distractions, it became difficult to get invested in the mystery. While it has some self aware humor and creative silliness in a certain train scene, it seems to meander too often without striking a real balance between humor and suspense. As a fan of Kate Hamill’s great work most recently in The Odyssey and Austen’s Emma, I was just longing for something more.

Gloucester Stage Company continues Kate Hamill’s comedic murder mystery Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt 2b live and in person at Gloucester Stage Company in Gloucester, Massachusetts through Saturday, September 27. Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW: Wild high jinks take shape in Central Square Theater’s spooky madcap spoof ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’

Posted on October 2, 2024 by The Sleepless Critic

Expect anything and everything to happen as things go bump in the night in this version of The Hound of the Baskervilles.

A striking lass, peculiar locals, a mustachioed stranger, a hobby horse, a stubborn stagehand, wacky beards and hefty accents are all part of this treacherous journey through the moor in Central Square Theater’s spooky and madcap spoof, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Steven Canny and John Nicholson continuing live and in person at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts through Sunday, October 6. Wildly directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner and very loosely based on Doyle’s legendary tale, this zany and semi-interactive production runs two hours and 15 minutes including an intermission. Click here for more information and for tickets.

Sarah Morin, Jenny S. Lee, and Aimee Doherty in Central Square Theater’s ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ Photo by Maggie Hall

The Hound of the Baskervilles is no stranger to adaptations. Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1903 classic Sherlock Holmes crime novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles has been adapted into dozen of films and TV shows including a 1978 British parody film starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. The actual tale is a chilling and puzzling foray into a mysterious crime and is considered one of Doyle’s best novels.

Haunting, comical and spontaneous is this mystery spoof that mixes the classic with the contemporary while still loosely sharing Doyle’s legendary tale as it veers into several comedic detours along the way.

Sarah Morin and Aimee Doherty in Central Square Theatre’s ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ Photo by Maggie Hall

A full moon, distant howling and a single illuminated ghost light kick off the foreboding and eerie demeanor of Central Square Theater’s Hound of the Baskervilles as David Bryan Jackson’s dynamic sound design along with John R. Malinowski’s spooky lighting navigate the haunting, humorous, and spontaneous elements of this swiftly shifting production that is not limited to the stage.

While generally not a big fan of spoofs, this self aware trio takes improvisation, physical humor, and even miming to new heights led by the ever impressive Aimee Doherty as herself, Holmes and others, especially during a zany expedition through Act II. It is at times mind boggling to think how this jocular trio manages to keep track of which comedic detour they are addressing from moment to moment (never mind the accents!) changing identities, and what is real and what is all in disguise, but it seems all in good fun with a considerable dose of goofy silliness.

Sarah Morin and Jenny S. Lee in Central Square Theater’s ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ Photo by Maggie Hall

Costume designer Leslie Held delivers Sherlock sleuthing at its Edwardian finest complete with Harris Tweed deerstalker caps, wool gray and mustard colored coats, paisley ties, and top hats mixed with some surprisingly whimsical selections as well. The production also swings from vintage into the contemporary in remarkable self aware fashion. Spoofing deductions about deducing is Doherty as Holmes who must solve the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville. Did he die of a heart attack or were there darker forces at work? Doherty’s comic timing is particularly sharp during a train sequence in which Doherty portrays a repetitive train conductor. Jenny S. Lee is more than game as admiring and a bit dim Watson, Sherlock’s sidekick. It is amusing to watch Doherty playfully tease Lee as Watson from time to time as they both attempt to solve this ‘jigsaw’ puzzle of a case. Lee is a fun sidekick, has engaging chemistry with Doherty, and stands as a firm Robin to Sherlock’s Batman.

Jenny S. Lee and Aimee Doherty in Central Square Theater’s ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ Photo by Maggie Hall

Sarah Morin more than has her work cut out for her as not only Canadian Sir Henry Baskerville, but all in the family line not including the zany characters that Doherty and Lee meet along the way. Trying to unravel this mystery and keep up with all the split second dress changes is a feat in itself.

Sarah Morin and Jenny S. Lee in Central Square Theatre’s The Hound of the Baskervilles Maggie Hall

However, the greatest feat of all might be how the show manages to remain on course. After all, The Hound of the Baskervilles is essentially a murder mystery and Holmes and Watson have a crime to solve.

Central Square Theater’s presents spooky madcap spoof, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Steven Canny and John Nicholson live and in person at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts through Sunday, October 6. Wildly directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner and very loosely based on Doyle’s legendary tale, this zany and semi-interactive production runs two hours and 15 minutes including an intermission. Click here for more information and for tickets.