Theatre review: Gateway audiences go on puzzle-solving adventure with Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson—Apt. 2B
Playwright Kate Hamill’s witty, gender-bent take on classic detective tales cites Star Wars as readily as The Hound of the Baskervilles
Mark Chavez, Anita Wittenberg, Kate Besworth, and Rami Kahlon in Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson—Apt. 2B. Photo by David Cooper
Gateway Theatre presents Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson—Apt. 2B to October 25
IT’S NO SMALL feat to take beloved, classic literary characters like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, gender-bend them, bring them into the present day, have them confront pandemic-era traumas, and still make it all funny and engaging.
But with a witty, fast-paced script by playwright Kate Hamill, an elaborate set, and dedicated performances by the entire cast, Gateway Theatre accomplishes just that with Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson—Apt. 2B.
At the helm is the eccentric, fast-talking, sweater vest–clad Sherlock—don’t call her Shirley—Holmes who is, at once, the old, familiar deduction-making detective we know and love. Even the new, gender-bent, and modernized additions to the character, such as her steampunk goggles, her bright pink Ulster coat, and her digitally unplugged nature, seem true to the classic Sherlock. Brought to life by Kate Besworth with infectious enthusiasm and an obvious love for the original character, Holmes is given all the confidence and quirk you’ve come to expect.
Watson, on the other hand, is nearly unrecognizable. Replacing the cool, calm, and collected Dr. Watson audiences can recall from the original stories, Hamill has written this Watson as a bit of a nervous wanderer. Performed with care and unexpected humour by Rami Kahlon, the character is haunted by her past and unsure of what to do with her life now. Watson joins Holmes in Apt. 2B with a leather jacket, wired earbuds, and a suitcase filled with all her earthly possessions—oh, and a strange habit of passing out or having a panic attack whenever she sees gore or suffering.
A doctor who faints at the sight of blood? It’s a puzzle—one Sherlock is determined to solve, despite her new roommate’s objections. She doesn’t know why it happens; it just does. But that only makes the mystery more enticing. After all, as Sherlock says: “Isn’t there something irresistible about a problem no one else has solved?”
But what about problems that can’t be solved? What then?
Puzzles are expertly woven throughout Hamill’s script and across all aspects of the production design, from the mysteries the two flatmates solve together to large puzzle-piece cut-outs adorning the stage floor, and a kitty-cat jigsaw puzzle the duo assembles on the coffee table in their flat.
The key to puzzle solving, Sherlock says, is to “accept the pieces as they come” without jumping the gun and predicting the final picture. Instead of rushing to the end, one should look for the pattern that emerges along the way.
It’s a good piece of advice for audiences of the production, encouraging them to search for patterns of their own as the story unfolds.
Kate Besworth and Rami Kahlon in Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson—Apt. 2B. Photo by David Cooper
And boy (or should we say girl?), there is a lot to look at. Set and props designer Emily Dotson must be commended for her incredible attention to detail and stunning, expansive set that shifts seamlessly between scenes. We move effortlessly from the duo’s cozy (if disastrously cluttered) apartment to the scene of the crime in a seedy hotel with transitions that are as smooth as they are striking.
Transitioning just as smoothly from scene to scene are Anita Wittenberg (weaving effortlessly from Irene Adler to Mrs. Hudson and beyond) and Mark Chavez (shifting from Inspector Lestrade to Elliott Monk and others). Athletically hopping from one distinctly bizarre character to the next is difficult in a two-hour production, but both performers rise to the challenge with remarkable agility. Each character they portray is so sharply defined that it’s never confusing who is talking to us—which is lucky because, in typical Sherlock fashion, there is a lot of story to keep track of.
On top of the mysteries to unravel, Hamill packs in references to famous old Sherlock material, such as A Study in Scarlet and The Hound of the Baskervilles, while incorporating modern pop-culture references to true-crime podcasts, The Shining, and Star Wars.
Sound designer Mary-Jane Coomber mirrors this blend of old and new through inventive audio choices. They cleverly enhance dramatic reveals and character quirks, and add classical arrangements of 2020s pop songs (à la Bridgerton) to play between scenes.
With a puzzle piece to collect in nearly every scene, and twists unfolding right up to the final moments of the show, audiences are drawn into the thrill of solving the mystery alongside the iconic detective duo. Hurry now: the game is afoot. And you don’t want to miss out on playing along. 
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