Ms Holmes and Ms Watson – Apt 2B review: mysterious case of the joke-cracking Sherlock
Arcola theatre, LondonThis riff on Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective stories has flashes of promise but its comedy and purpose never landShouldn’t that be Flat 2b? Then again, there are bigger...
By Arifa Akbar · The Guardian Culture
Arcola theatre, London This riff on Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective stories has flashes of promise but its comedy and purpose never land Shouldn’t that be Flat 2b? Then again, there are bigger problems in this gender-switched reworking of Arthur Conan Doyle’s tales of sleuthing than a mere Americanism tossed into Victorian-era Baker Street. These detective adventures take place in post-pandemic London. Joan Watson (Simona Brown), who tells us she is “not” a doctor, is an American on a grown-up gap year of sorts. An advert for a flatshare brings her to the apartment of Sherlock Holmes (Lucy Farrett), who emphatically tells us she is not called Shirley. Despite Watson’s reluctance to be there, and her suspicion of Holmes, they set about solving cases together. At Arcola theatre, London , until 20 December Continue reading...