Everyone loves a good mystery. And who better to confound us with one than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who then sends his most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, to unravel even the most convoluted of mysteries for us?
Ah, but there’s a hilarious rub in all of this. Red Barn Theatre’s latest offering, “Ms. Holmes, Ms. Watson, Apt. 2B,” running Jan. 28 through Feb. 22, presents the audience with a tale that cheerfully desecrates the stories of Conan Doyle in an unusual and funny way.
In Kate Hamill’s play, the world’s most famous detective is a frazzled female police consultant whose deductions astound everyone. She takes on a new roommate – a wayward American who Holmes determines is running from a past in which she used to be a doctor and now needs a little help refocusing. Portrayed as a deeply co-dependent, quasi-dysfunctional odd couple, the two embark on a fast-paced romp through multiple violent crimes that all seem to lead to notorious villains.
Their caseload includes the murder of a man found in a motel and a right-wing politician who cheated on his wife. The blend of classic theater and modern comedy balances mystery with humor, playfully dismantling and, at the same time, celebrating the conventions of Conan Doyle’s stories.
“We’re really having a good time,“ said director Mimi McDonald. “The intimacy of the Red Barn allows the audience to take the ride with the actors. At the heart of it is a real mystery, with twists and turns, and a few real surprises. We know the audience is going to have a ball solving the mystery with us.”
Susannah Wells stars as Ms. Sherlock Holmes, and Mariah Woessner is the perfect complement as Ms./Dr. Watson. Joining them and playing a number of characters are Arthur Crocker and Morgan Fraga Pierson.
“Everyone will love the costumes,” said McDonald, who commissioned Key West costumer Gary Marion – better known as Sushi – to create original costumes for the play. “They’re really something – a kind of apocalyptic theme and a warrior vibe, that adds another whole dimension to the story.”
All curtains are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at keystix.com. More information is available from the Red Barn box office at 305-296-9911.
