‘Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson’ Offers Chaotic Tarries

PROVIDENCE, RI — “Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B,” one of two comedies launching Trinity Repertory Company’s2024-2025 season, pressents female versions of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective team, navigating an often perplexing, chaotic plot.

The story, set in the present, features Holmes and Watson as roommates in a London apartment. Holmes brandishes a sword and enjoys classical music. She is a self-described “deductive consultant” and has no use for modern technology. Dr. Watson, an American, gets queasy at the sight of blood. She educates Holmes about social media and cleans up their apartment.

They investigate a murder at a low-rent hotel, along with the eccentric Inspector Lestrade. There is a dead man in the shower and a word scrawled in blood on the curtain. Was the man’s wife responsible? 

Playwright Kate Hamill’s script is loaded with pop culture references and double entendres. There is a “Star Wars” joke and references to “The Sopranos” and “Die Hard”, as well as a particularly nasty swipe at Julia Roberts.

The show starts off promisingly, with a terrific chemistry between the two leads. As the intrepid Holmes, Renata Eastlick has a commanding stage presence and a boisterous personality. Madeleine Maby, as Watson, exhibits a blend of befuddlement at Holmes’ style of investigating and a tender vulnerability as she reveals the secrets of her past.

Jeff Church, most recently seen in “Twelfth Night,” is always amusing to watch as Lestrade. Church is a gifted actor with whip-smart timing and a wide range of facial expressions. 

Jennifer Mischley, filling in for Angela Brazil, excels in multiple roles, including the widow of the dead guy, Ms. Hudson, the odd landlady, and Irene Adler, a scheming vixen.

Laura Kepley’s direction is smooth and the set and lighting design are first-rate.

The show goes off the rails with the bizarre appearance of a Presidential candidate (no spoilers here), a development which makes no sense and seems to have been included as merely a shock moment. 

Church also plays a tech mogul who we learn is running for the U.S. Senate from Texas. There’s some business about an incriminating tape, which Holmes and Watson try to retrieve. To do this, they masquerade as Irish nuns. The story lost me at this point.  Events and character motivations become increasingly nonsensical as there are double crosses and triple crosses and people who pretend to be dead before jumping out windows. 

Hamill also makes the odd choice of using COVID-19 as a plot point. Watson reveals she was an ER doctor during the pandemic and suffered post-traumatic stress from dealing with infected patients.  This happens after Holmes and Watson dress as nuns. Why did Hamill think it was necessary to include such a serious event in a zany comedy?

With a running time of over 2 hours, “Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B” wears out its welcome. The endless plot twists are exhausting and lack coherence. 

Trinity Repertory Company has produced many amazing shows over the years. Sadly, this isn’t one of them.

Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson- Apt. 2B runs through November 17. Trinity Repertory Company. 201 Washington St., Providence. For tickets, call 401-351-4242 or visit www.trinityrep.com.