Sherlock Holmes comes to the Arcola Theatre as acclaimed playwright Kate Hamill gives her take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s singular sleuth. Starring Lucy Farrett and Simona Brown as the eponymous duo, Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson Apt. 2B, while not being a particularly inspired take on the classic character, is a fun, laugh-filled time.
There are many things to enjoy about the Arcola Theatre production. The set design is beautifully done, with the iconic Baker Street flat brought to life with great effect. You’ll find no shortage of clever props, lighting and sound usage throughout the play, and despite some narrative and character-based issues, there are plenty of much-appreciated moments of physical comedy and choreography that the actors sell with aplomb.
Farrett and Brown’s takes on their characters are full of everything you’d expect from most interpretations. Farrett’s Sherlock is eccentric, volatile, brilliant, with all the quirks that border on the cliché, although there are some slightly more slapstick moments where Farrett excels. Brown’s Watson feels somewhat underserved by the narrative; although sold well, the character, who often serves as the audience insert and the every-person, feels by-the-numbers. It’s no surprise then that the performers who are less weighed down by prior convention are the ones who stay most in the mind. Alice Lucy is a delight in a trio of roles, including the duo’s long-suffering landlady Mrs Hudson and Holmes’ crafty kryptonite Irene Adler, getting plenty to do and handling each role with comedic panache. Tendai Humphrey Sitima is a constant source of laughs and charisma with his performances as the bumbling Lestrade and the larger-than-life American Monk. Sitima even has more than a few opportunities to interact with the audience, which he pulls off to great effect.
What lets Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson Apt. 2B down are the pitfalls that often plague most adaptations, subversions and parodies of the classic IP. For a niche that so often lives or dies by its mysteries, the more sleuthy elements of the production aren’t the most engaging, periodically feeling predictable and not all that original. Due to the nature of Holmes’ deductions, some exposition is expected in any adaptation; however, these segments of the show can drag, and there are moments that you feel would benefit from being shown rather than told. The attempts at emotional, poignant scenes fall flat as well-worn character dynamics are leaned on a bit too much to the detriment of what goes on onstage, and the script can be too meta, being packed to the brim with inconsistent cultural references, fourth wall breaks, overt winks to the audience and lampshading.
Overall, there’s plenty to enjoy about this Arcola Theatre production; you’ll find plenty of fun performances, comedic moments, slick execution and great staging. While not necessarily a classic outing for Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, there’s still a lot to love, even if you find the narrative twists and turns to be a bit elementary.
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