On Kissimmee’s Osceola Arts stage, Holmes & Miss Watson: apt. 2B, packed with stuffings of ideas, rethinks the classic British detective and associate as two women of a modern era. Sherlock – Don’t call her Shirley – the house remains lonely with her genius, a lover of classical music and illegal drug users. Dr. Watson is now being re-enlightened more clearly – as an American divorcee who presents her own mystery to Holmes. Why do doctors see blood and faint?
Playwright Kate Hamill was a huge success with contemporary take that made classic novels shine, such as “Pride & Prejudice” and “Sense & Sensibility.” She appears to be hoping that the play will become a legitimate mystery. And then a farce. and American social criticism. And physical comedy. And the story of female empowerment. and. and. and…
Of course, there are multiple layers of play – many of the best things can be done, but here, it’s not always smooth to hang, as if Hamill himself isn’t sure what the main thrust should be.
Luckily, director Kate Demoulin helps smooth out many of the inconsistencies. And she was happy to bring together the cast. Each one makes a great impression and creates a share of laughter. That means you can hear them properly in a strangely echo-like theater.
Meaghan Fenner’s Holmes has a fun and polished edge. Her mental strength is consistent with only her ego strength. She gets mad at the abandonment of joy, Ponty-fiction and tease.
As Watson, Taylor Bye has a naturalness in her performance. The contrast in style makes it feel as if Watson really failed the rest of the world.
In several roles, Crystal Kennedy is most registered as the classic femme fatale named Eileen Adler. She does a solid job showing Eileen’s brain hir gear under her sexy look.
The lonely man in the cast, Perry Salie creates distinct features for his various characters. This includes the most comically dizzy inspector Lestrade and the exaggerated social media mogul named Elliot Monk. Playwright Hamill is also divided into criticisms of technology dependency, so we must assume that his similarity to Elon Musk is intentional. Incidentally, Holmes is a different repurposer and is Luddite, who believes he uses Google.
The detailed set of Waylon Lemasters creates a handsome background for murder and Mirth, but the climactic scenes involving jumping to a moving train are too big to be persuasive. Hamill also seems to have forgotten that as a good mystery is approaching the finish line, it should not meander to the side issues as it accumulates steam.
The mystery embedded in the plot is resolved in intellectually satisfying and entertaining ways, and there is something affectionate and inspiring about the inspiring yet growing friendship between Holmes and Watson, who often translates from the book. Hamill has something to say about why we enjoy the mystery. Yes, because she needs to throw pop psychology there – but it’s okay if you just enjoy the thrill of laughter and hunting.
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‘MS. Holmes & Miss Watson: apt. 2b’
Length: 2:20, including breaks: Osceola Arts, 2411 E. Ilro Bronson Memorial Highway Era: Until June 15th Cost: $25-$30 Information: osceolaarts.org
Original issue: 5am EDT, June 3, 2025
