Welcome to Theater News, a regular column by longtime reviewer Anita W. Harris. Look for it most Thursdays. Or sign up for our Eat See Do newsletter to get it in your inbox.If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, you’ll love how playwright Kate Hamill has mapped the Holmes universe onto female versions of the famous detective and sidekick doctor in her comedic play “Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B,” continuing at International City Theatre through Nov. 2.
And even if you aren’t as familiar with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s mystery stories, you’ll still love the sheer energy and talent of this excellent four-member cast. Though the play is long at two-and-a-half hours including intermission, this intrepid ensemble gives it their all at every fast-paced step, making for engaging, entertaining and sometimes a little wacky theater.
Hamill’s script is not only updated in terms of gender but also time, with the story set in 2021 London. Though Holmes’ style and the names of the mysteries she solves still seem Victorian in some ways (Watson says they sound fake), the play is chock full of modern, pop-culture references and expressions, especially by the American Watson.
Dr. Joan Watson (Cheryl Daro) insists she’s not actually a doctor when she turns up at 221 Baker Street with her roller bag and leather jacket, looking for a cheap place to stay as she sorts out her life. Landlady Mrs. Hudson (Tamarra Graham) is super happy to rent her a room, which we soon discover is because the space is also inhabited by an eccentric Shirley, or rather Sherlock, Holmes (Sarah Wolter).
In a brilliant mapping of the detective onto a female character, we still get a brash, arrogant, substance-abusing (with an actual bong), hyper-intelligent Sherlock, which may be shocking at first blush. But Wolter owns her role, performing with physical dexterity and vocal aplomb (as when she sang as Mother Superior in Musical Theatre West’s “The Sound of Music” two years ago).
Daro is similarly well cast as Watson, reluctantly conscripted as Holmes’ crime-solving sidekick, even though she heaves at the sight of blood (or perhaps it is something deeper that makes her faint). Watson is delightful as a “normal” person responding to Holmes’ weirdness, but also clearly delights in the thrill of the chase (her recitation of Irishisms — “They’re always after me Lucky Charms!” — as she and Holmes race around the theater as Irish nuns is just one example).
And Graham is fantastic in all her roles, from Mrs. Hudson to the wife of a murdered man to the mysterious and sensual Irene Adler — a suitable match and rival for Holmes, just as in the books. Graham throws herself fearlessly into each role (one can see how she’s a Navy veteran with British drama training), playing each of her characters with a slightly different English accent and demeanor.
Last but certainly not least, Brian Stanton (earning laughs with his French and Scottish accents last year in ICT’s “Murder on the Links”) immerses himself as goofy Scotland Yard detective Lestrade and evil mastermind Moriarty in a late appearance. Like the others, Stanton performs each role with gusto, adopting different demeanors and accents and at one point transforming characters before our very eyes.
As directed by Amie Farrell, the energy of this ensemble is remarkable and impressively sustained through the density of its plot. Though Hamill calls her play a “cheerful desecration” of Doyle’s original mysteries, it comes off as a very thorough homage — hence the length — infused with gleeful, over-the-top humor and a treat for fans with unexpected twists and turns toward the end.
Destiny Manewal’s detailed scenic design, Kimberly DeShazo’s character-driven costuming and sound designer Dave Mickey’s upbeat songs between scenes — including The Go-Go’s “Vacation” — only enhance our engagement and immersion in the play, which though long (did I mention that?), is a fitting tribute to the “calculating machine” that is Sherlock Holmes, whether male or female.
International City Theatre’s “Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B” continues at the Beverly O’Neill Theater, 330 E. Seaside Way, with shows Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. For tickets and information, call the box office at 562-436-4610 or visit ICTLongBeach.org. Run time is 2 hours and 30 minutes, including intermission.