⭐⭐ (Two Stars)

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most well-known characters in British literature, inspiring countless spin-offs and adaptations. Gender-flipping the leads and transporting them into the modern day is certainly an intriguing concept but, unfortunately, Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - Apt 2B at Arcola Theatre doesn’t quite capture the elements that audiences know and love. The result is a less-than-satisfying new take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s material.

Written by Kate Hamill and directed by Sean Turner, the play introduces us to Joan Watson (Simona Brown), an American divorcee searching for a room to rent in post-pandemic London. She soon finds herself living in Apartment 2B with “Deductive Consultant” Shirley ‘Sherlock’ Holmes (Lucy Farrett). Holmes makes a chaotic entrance brandishing a fencing sword though, as landlady Mrs. Hudson (Alice Lucy) attempts to reassure Watson, “She’s not always like this: sometimes she’s manic.” Holmes quickly becomes fixated on solving the mystery of her new roommate’s past, all the while dragging Watson along as she solves murders and mysteries involving recognisable characters from Conan Doyle’s novels. Called on by Scotland Yard to assist with their most puzzling cases, Holmes shows off her powers of deduction, piecing together scant evidence and identifying red herrings.

However, the character of Sherlock Holmes in this play feels uneven. Farrett’s depiction often seems like an impression of past deerstalker-wearing incarnations, complete with repeated “Elementary, my dear Watson!” exclamations and an overstated technophobia: she claims not to know what Google is and refers to blogs as “blegs” despite eloquently explaining how a villain made their millions through social media. A subplot involving Watson’s panic attacks at the sight of others’ suffering also fails to land, feeling unconvincing both in its staging and in how it is integrated into the story.

While the play clearly aims for comedy, few jokes land with the audience aside from occasional moments of physical comedy, such as Watson inadvertently gesticulating with a corpse’s arm. The production tries to cram in a great deal of Sherlock Holmes lore, introducing a steady stream of new characters and plotlines throughout. Many of these characters are played by Alice Lucy, who is more suited to the conniving Irene Adler but is less convincing as the various elderly characters she also portrays. With at least five plot twists too many, each arriving with more of a sigh than a gasp, the play ultimately loses momentum.

The occasional breaking of the fourth wall is another curious and inconsistent choice. Used effectively, it can be a powerful storytelling device but here, it feels underdeveloped. The play begins with Tendai Humphrey Sitima addressing the audience in an improvised segment where he calls out latecomers and jokes that budget constraints have prevented a 19th-century setting, which is entertaining if not successful at setting the tone for the play to follow. Characters also break the fourth wall to comment on how the red lighting state (by lighting designer David Howe) symbolises the blood at a crime scene. Yet as the play progresses, these asides become increasingly sporadic, almost as if the device has been forgotten.

Max Dorey’s set design offers an eclectic, cluttered kitchen-living area that feels lived-in and thoughtfully detailed, complete with a nod to the iconic black 221B Baker Street front door on the balcony above the main playing area. The set is most effective when scenes take place inside the flat since minimal transitions (such as a somewhat underwhelming curtain drop) do little to establish a change in location. Hattie North’s sound design is successful in creating atmosphere, especially during a second-act scene in a train station, while Howe’s lighting and projections across the kitchen blinds add visual interest. However, the design elements do not manage to do much to distract from the production’s shortcomings.

Overall, Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - Apt 2B draws inspiration from an iconic detective but never quite lives up to its source material.

Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - Apt. 2B runs at Arcola Theatre until 20th December 2025.

Tickets Available Here