The Remarkable Mister Holmes is a Funny Time Full of Live Music and Naughtiness
A Blog View by Alejandra Enciso-Dardashti
Front (L-R) Gilmour-Smyth & Tang; Middle Row (L-R) Ableson & Karel; Back Roq (L-R) Perry, Shatto, Rietkerk, McBean & Johnson – photo by Aaron Rumley |
All the actors have amazing vocals and keep up the fast-paced rythm with their essence and comedic flare. Not giving much away, the story starts with a couple of murders immediately solved by an "onlooker" who turns out to be Holmes (Bart Shatto) in disguise. The scenes seem pretty bare but then there is an unveiling of a truly magical, gorgeous set design by Marty Burnett whose work is beautiful and always rocks at NCR's presentations however, this time it was taken around 10 steps further as it was a set with traveling boxes that as they turn and open, have a different look and function. For example, one would be a closet space where Mr. Holmes pulls out his coats from. Another is a gold backdrop for a luxurious hotel. Another creatively thought and executed factor is that usually with these types of set pieces that are changed around constantly through the story, as an audience member, you get tired of the moving around and the stage crew with their headpieces coming to the scene to wheel out a table or wheel in a door. In this case, the crew was dressed in period pieces as housemaids. I sort of got the idea of them assisting the scene and I loved it. Very well resolved and not tiresome at all.
Katie Karel & Phil Johnson – photo by Aaron Rumley |
Andrew Ableson plays every one of the religious men being murdered which included a Rabbi, a drunken Bishop, a Texan Pastor?, and a Hindu Swami maybe? All these characters have their accents and mannerisms and Ableson does a great job. Still in my eyes -call me conservative- taking comedic jabs at these figures in these present times is minefield territory.
There is a combo dynamic of dialogue and breaking into song. The vocals are there and each of the cast members has an opportunity to show them off with live musicians too which will always add value. Eager to solve mysteries too, Sheila follows Holmes to the crime scenes and drafts her own conclusions along with Inspector Lestrade (Tony Perry) who's worked with Mr. Sherlock for years and years putting murderers away.
David McBean & Katy Tang – photo by Aaron Rumley |
Just like North Coast always delivers with the set design, same with the costume design. Elisa Benzoni does it again from the long British coats to the gorgeous dresses with colors that just pop! There are two, in particular, a forrest green taffeta dress that is gorgeous as well as a bright almost neon blue made great elements that round the piece.
The Remarkable Mister Holmes is very entertaining and funny. It would have been better shorter but hey, still worth the drive. In this case I would recommend a matinee and it is also a great opportunity to see all this talent together in one stage. Playing until August 21. For performance dates and times please click HERE.
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