The game’s afoot as Laguna Playhouse presents the continuous misadventures of The Remarkable Mister Holmes!
A string of baffling crimes challenges the world’s most notorious detective Sherlock Holmes (Paul Slade Smith; Brdwy: “Finding Neverland,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) and his new assistant. Not only do they sleuth and scrutinize — but they also sing!
Fast-paced, outrageous, and irreverent, this is a loving homage to the original Arthur Conan Doyle tales, thrilling theatre lovers and Sherlock buffs alike, singing, dancing, and deducting his way into our hearts. There are multiple murders to be solved with numerous, sometimes odious suspects. There are unexpected complications, twists and turns, blind alleys, red herrings — all overseen by Sherlock Holmes, the champion of cloak and dagger.
The suitably intricate book is by actor/writer Omri Schein, who wrote the clever, wordplay lyrics along with actor/director David Ellenstein, and musical genius Daniel M. Lincoln, who composed the catchy alphabet-soup score, bringing us a fresh, fabulous and funny Holmes. Director Ellenstein describes it as a cross between “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “My Fair Lady.”
For this plot, however, Dr. Watson is absent. He has gone off to South America to claim a mine that has been bequeathed to him. In his stead, his peripatetic sister Sheila (Shannon O’Boyle; Brdwy: “Once,” “Kinky Boots”) comes to stay with Holmes. But Sheila is no milquetoast. Here, Holmes has finally met his match.
Having a very bad first impression, she sings that he is blinded by a vanity/ that borders on insanity/ you also lack humanity/ and haven't got a clue — before turning to the audience and winking, "See what I did there?" Murders of different religious authorities start happening — a Rabbi, a drunken Bishop, a Texas Pastor, and a Hindu Swami — and each body is left with a religious artifact as a clue. There is also a luxurious jewels exhibit about to take place in the hotel. And when Holmes is brought on to help with the case, Sheila is very much in tow, matching the great detective in smarts, savvy and calculated deduction.
Shifting through tantalizing clues, Sherlock and Sheila must at the same time manage the demands of the entitled Germanic brother and sister, Gustav and Gerda von Schwanz and the hotel manager (who are there to display their country's gallery of precious jewelry), all of whom are in starchy indignation that the Hotel Magnificent is rapidly becoming a charnel house.
Paul Slade Smith’s Holmes demonstrates not only his mastery of solving crimes but those involving a dynamic, fast-paced performance with the song and cunning, crafty lyrics. He is also fiercely intelligent, with extraordinary powers of observation, forensic figuring and deductive reasoning. Arrogant and supercilious. Supremely logical but unemotional and fairly apathetic. And unequivocally convinced of his rightness and infallibility.
Shannon O’Boyle is lovely, charming, sassy and irresistible as Sheila Watson, and describes Holmes’ manners as “on the spectrum between psoriasis and mange.” There’s eventually a potential love interest, but a too-lttle-too-late “I’ve Grown Accustomed to her Face-like” musical moment of realization on Holmes’ part.
Inspector Lestrade is played by Martin Kildare. Seen on Broadway as Scar in “The Lion King” and “A Raison in the Sun,” he brings his powerful baritone to the mix. British American actress Susan Denaker (Ahmanson’s “Secret Garden;” British Nat’l. Tour: “Company”) is not only a local legend, but has worked extensively on both sides of the pond, and with her diverse talents seamlessly melded into Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock’s housekeeper, along with other assorted roles.
Darcy Rose Byrnes (Abby on “Y&R,” Penny on “Desperate Housewives”) plays the adorable Phyllis and several other roles, showcasing her wonderful brilliance. Others portraying multiple roles include the well-traveled legend Michael Scott Harris, who plays the colorful role of Gustav Von Schwartz (most recently of “Inherit the Wind” at Pasadena Playhouse). His counterpart, Gerda Von Schwartz, played by Katie Karel (who you may remember from “Tartuffe”), is also splendorous.
Pat Towne (Mark Taper Forum’s “A Transparent Musical”) is definitely an incredible, highly accomplished character actor. And rounding out the cast is the multi-talented Justin Michael Wilcox (5-Star’s “Something Rotten,” “A Chorus Line” at the Hollywood Bowl) who alternates with Broadway icon Jason Graae (Brdwy: “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes…?” “Falsettos”) as Artemis, and a few others. An excellent Mr. Graae was on deck this night. To put it succinctly, this is a high-caliber team delivering high-caliber entertainment.
Musicians of the piece include Alby Potts as Musical Director and keyboards, Steve Chiu on violin, Jay Mason handling reeds, Kara Ford on the second keyboard, and Adam Alesi on drums and percussion.
All-round, the cast of ten is superb, and their quick changes of character and costume make it appear that there are scores more. The wonderful wardrobe and wig array (costumes by Alex Jaeger) is recherché in itself. There’s cross-dressing and gender-bending, and, well…no comic stone is unturned.
The running-time of 2 and a half-plus-hours could be trimmed, however — not every new character needs to have a song, and the titular opening doesn’t require quite that many deaths to introduce the world-renowned central character. But, in any case, the show moves fleetly, and there’s so much to like about it that time is not really an issue. By the way, don’t try to unravel all the mysteries on your own — there are just too many. Just sit back and watch it gloriously unspooling before you.
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS, THE REMARKABLE MISTER HOLMES, A Madcap Musical Comedy Murder Mystery. Book by OMRI SCHEIN and DAVID ELLENSTEIN; Lyrics by OMRI SCHEIN (“Making Melrose,” “The Princess Probllama and Fintastic Finn”); Music by DANIEL LINCOLN (“Wicked,” “On Your Feet!” “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”); Choreography by JILL GORRIE CAMELOT (“Desperate Measures”); Musical Direction by ALBY POTTS (“Fiddler On The Roof” with JASON ALEXANDER, “A Little Night Music”); Directed by DAVID ELLENSTEIN (“Eleanor,” “A View From the Bridge,” “Holmes & Watson”); Scenic Design by STEPHEN GIFFORD; Costume Design by ALEX JAEGER; Lighting Design by MATTHEW NOVOTNY; Sound Design by IAN SCOT; Hair and Wigs Design by PETER HERMAN; Props Design by KEVIN WILLIAMS; Production Stage Manager is VERNON WILLET.
STARRING: PAUL SLADE SMITH (Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway) as “Sherlock Holmes,” DARCY ROSE BYRNES (Rapunzel and Her Holiday Wish at Laguna Playhouse, Reefer Madness at the Reefer Den) as “Rosa and others,” SUSAN DENAKER (The Secret Garden at the Ahmanson, Blythe Spirit at North Coast Rep) as “Mrs. Hudson and others,” JASON GRAAE (Wicked; National Tour, Ragtime at the Shubert Theatre) as “Artemis and others” (March 5 – March 23), MICHAEL SCOTT HARRIS (Inherit The Wind at Pasadena Playhouse, Lend Me A Tenor at ICT) as “Gustav Von Schwanz and others,” KATIE KAREL (Tartuffe at Laguna Playhouse, Pippin at North Coast Rep ) as “Gerda Von Schwanz and others,” MARTIN KILDARE (The Lion King on Broadway, Mrs. Warren’s Profession at A Noise Within) as “Inspector Lestrade and others,” SHANNON O’BOYLE (Once and Kinky Boots on Broadway) as “Sheila Watson,” and PAT TOWNE (A Transparent Musical at the Mark Taper Forum, Rock of Ages at the Bourbon Room) as “Corpse, and others,” JUSTIN MICHAEL WILCOX (Something Rotten at 5-Star Theatricals, A Chorus Line at the Hollywood Bowl) as “Artemis and others” (March 24- March 30).
THE REMARKABLE MISTER HOLMES, LIMITED ENGAGEMENT, plays March 5th through March 30th. Performances are Wednesdays at 7:30pm; Thursdays at 2:00pm and 7:30pm; Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2:00pm & 7:30pm; Sundays at 1:00pm & 5:30pm. There will be no performance on Sunday, March 9 at 1:00pm or Sunday, March 30 at 5:30pm. For more information, visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.
Chris Daniels
Arts & Entertainment Reviewer
The Show Report
PHOTO CREDIT: Jason Niedle/TETHOS
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