GLT’s ‘Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson’ is more whydunit than whodunit

I have a great deal of respect for Great Lakes Theater. Over the years I have witnessed truly inspiring works of Shakespeare as well as non-Shakespearean works. Every so often (not very often mind you) there appears on the Hanna Theatre stage productions that I question. Such a work is the current staging of Kate Hamill’s “Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson”. Billed as “Cheerfully Desecrating The Stories Of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle” it does manage to do that but not in a good way.

The main problem seems to be with the writing. To start, the show is dreadfully long (just a shade over two hours plus intermission). Honestly, how many times do we have to hear about Ms. Watson “doctor not a doctor” along with all of her other mental challenges. The convoluting plot line of various cases are difficult to follow. The attempt at madcap comedy falls flat with a frenetic rush that puzzles. This is matched with garish costuming that does not seemed linked to any era or generation known to man or the audience.

For parents who unwittingly brought their young children (there was no mature audience only warning) they were witnessed to adult language, sexual situations and such as well as glorified drug use. Entire families endured up to the intermission then made a strategic exit along with a number of senior citizen audience members.

On the bright side, the stage set by Jeff Herrmann is awesome. It reminded me of “The Sherlock Holmes Museum” that is located at 221B Baker Street (the museum had the city renumber the entire street in order to secure that number for the building). The museum consists of four floors dedicated to illustrating the various stories of the great fictional detective. The stage set manages to illustrate that same seemingly randomness of placed objects with purpose. Jason Fassl’s lighting design is superb changing the mood in a flash. The show is directed by Maggie Kettering.

As for the acting, Jodi Dominick as Ms. Holmes gives a spirited if not frenetic performance. One would think that she was smoking crack cocaine rather than marijuana with all the running around and nervous energy on show. Yadira Correa as the Ms. Joan Watson character seems a misfit to the situation. You never really sense a connection between the two women unlike the strong bond between the original two male protagonists. Emjoy Gavino as Irene Adler/Mrs. Hudson/Others manages to give convincing portrayals of her charges. Lastly, Rex Young as Inspector Lestrade, Elliot Monk and Moriarty does his best. The problem is in the script that saddles the actors with impossible situations and genres.

This is a show that will not be to everyone’s taste. Families with young children should think twice as well as senior citizens who are easily offended. It is a show that tries too hard to be too many things...madcap comedy...serious crime drama...feminist manifesto...period piece. If you like a challenge, give it a go and see if you agree.

The Great Lakes Theater production of “Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson” will be on stage in the Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio through May 10, 2026. For more information and to order tickets go to https://www.greatlakestheater.org/ or call (216) 241-6000.