PHOTO CREDIT: Jason Niedle/TETHOS

Written by Daniella Litvak

“My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people do not know.” [1]

Sherlock Holmes – the brilliant detective who resided at 221B Baker Street. He is a character so admired and beloved that not even his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, could kill him off permanently. In addition to Doyle’s short stories and novels, there are numerous Holmes adaptations, Holmes-inspired, Holmes-derivative, and Holmes-adjacent works. Holmes mania does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon, considering 2025 has already seen the premieres of the Sherlock movie and a TV series centered around Holmes’s sidekick, Dr. John Watson, and another Sherlock TV series will be airing soon. Of course, if you’re looking for something beyond the screen, I recommend heading down to the Laguna Playhouse for The Remarkable Mr. Holmes (hereinafter referred to as “Mr. Holmes“).

A word of caution to Holmes purists: Not only is Mr. Holmes a musical, but it’s Sherlock Holmes by way of Mel Brooks. There are no sacred cows in this show. However, there is plenty of humor, zaniness, and Easter eggs for Holmes fans to spot.

Shannon O’Boyle, Darcy Rose Byrnes and Paul Slade Smith star in “THE REMARKABLE MISTER HOLMES,” directed by David Ellenstein and now playing at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach.

Story:

Set in Victorian-era London, England, a murder related to the World Religious Conference has Scotland Yard baffled. Sherlock Holmes (Paul Slade Smith) is the only man who can solve the case, but he has been out of sorts lately because Watson is away. Not helping matters is the arrival of Watson’s sister, Sheila (Shannon O’Boyle), who is determined to fill her brother’s shoes and is not afraid of getting under Holmes’s skin. With the body count rising, Sherlock must prove once again why he is remarkable.

As mentioned above, there are countless Holmes-related works, so Mr. Holmes is not the first Sherlock Holmes musical or the first to pair up Holmes with a female sidekick. What makes Mr. Holmes an excellent show are its specifics. Its storyline, its jokes, its cast, and its design. The excellence is in the details, which is appropriately Holmesian, considering the famous detective’s method is based upon the observation of trifles.[2]

Acting: 

The whole cast is splendid. In this iteration of Sherlock Holmes, Paul Slade Smith delicately alternates between acting as the straight man and the wise guy, and he nails it. Shannon O’Boyle’s Shelia can go toe-to-toe with him, and the two have great chemistry. Each member of the cast gets a moment to shine. Just when I think I know who the standout is, there comes another standout performance.

Lighting/Set/Costume: 

Matthew Novotny’s lighting immediately gives the show a dramatic start with the silhouette of Holmes playing a violin. Stephen Gifford’s set design was beautiful, and I liked how he incorporated Holmes symbols. Hats off to Kevin Williams for props design, as certain prop(s) created a very funny moment during the show and a real treat of a curtain call.

The company of “THE REMARKABLE MISTER HOLMES,” directed by David Ellenstein and now playing at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach.

Costume designer Alex Jaeger had the Herculean task of not only outfitting everyone in period costumes but also making sure each costume fit the character’s personality and the social class the character represented. They all looked great. I loved the green gown Sheila wore at the end of Act One. I also loved the way breakaway clothing was used to give Holmes a dramatic, Superman-esque entrance onto the stage. Peter Herman’s hair and wig design complemented the looks.

Overall:

Mr. Holmes has a lot to set up, so the first act can feel long. However, it is worth it for the payoffs in the second. If you go see it, you’ll want to stick around until the very end.

[1] Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle – a Sherlock Holmes Short Story

[2] See Arthur Conan Doyle, The Bascombe Valley Mystery – a Sherlock Holmes Short Story

Review

8.9 Overall

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Story8.5

Acting9

Set & Design9

Costumes9

Entertainment9

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Excellent Show! OCR Recommended! March 5 – 30, 2025