6 newportbeachindy . com JUNE 7 , 2024
STEPPING OUT
‘ Holmes and Watson ’ at Laguna Playhouse is Awash in Enjoyable Red Herrings
By Christopher Trela | NB Indy Were the peerless detective Sherlock Holmes to meet his demise , who would plumb the mystery and catch the killer ?
That ’ s the tantalizing premise posited by Jeffrey Hatcher in his 2018 play “ Holmes and Watson .” In Laguna Playhouse ’ s production , director David Ellenstein and company sink their theatrical chops into this fastmoving , tantalizing mystery , taking us along for the ride and often leaving us breathless .
It ’ s 1894 , and Dr . John Watson ( Richard Baird ) explains to us that it has been three years since he and Holmes were lured to Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland by the sleuth ’ s arch-nemesis , Professor Moriarty , where Watson saw Holmes plunge to his death .
Since then , though , Watson has heard of countless “ false sightings ” of Holmes , setting him on a task , he tells us , “ To dispute the claims of these impersonators .”
Richard Baird , Mike Peebler and Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper star in the Laguna Playhouse production of “ Hoilmes & Watson .”
The trail has led Watson to a secluded island now being run as an insane asylum by Dr . Evans ( Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper ). Cut off from the mainland by a raging storm , Watson stays overnight , meeting and interviewing the only three patients , each of whom insists he ’ s Holmes .
Among the most intriguing aspects of “ Holmes and Watson ” is that as it takes us deeper and deeper into the quagmire surrounding what became of Watson ’ s lifelong friend , and plunges Watson into the role of lead detective as he reflects on and draws from his many years alongside Holmes .
The play also shows Watson as a scientist , experimenting with each of the three Holmeses at hand in his efforts to arrive at the truth .
“ Holmes and Watson ” is a tight , taut , compelling piece of stagecraft . We ’ re almost immediately drawn into its multiple mysteries , starting
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