Review: 'Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery' by Olympia Little Theatre

Rachel Benton

When you think of Sherlock Holmes, what images come to mind? Perhaps you picture a film or television adaptation, a stage production, or even the image you’ve conjured in your own mind while reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories.

With a character as famous as Sherlock Holmes, it’s almost impossible not to have a specific picture of him or Dr. Watson in mind, isn’t it? 

How you imagine Sherlock Holmes matters as you approach Olympia Little Theatre’s latest production, Ken Ludwig’s "Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery."

The humor woven into nearly every moment of this play will either make you smile or leave you feeling it borders on disrespectful. I make this distinction not to discourage anyone from seeing the production or supporting local talent, but because I know what it’s like to know a character so well, and how familiarity can shape your expectations and impact your perspective on varied interpretations.  

I invite you to leave preconceived notions at the door and open your mind to something different that honors the legacy and reimagines it (as we all should, from time to time, to keep stories fresh and alive). If you can do that, I imagine you’ll be just as impressed as I was by this high-quality production. 

 The review 

As I stepped into the theater, I was immediately in awe of the set design. It’s simple, but the blue hues and landmark silhouettes painted on the walls were lovely. 

Before the show began, Director Paul Fouhy explained that three actors would play up to 40 roles altogether, with each wearing as many as 12 costumes. That alone deserves applause, both for the actors taking on this monumental task and for the costume designers working behind the scenes.

Unfortunately, I left my program at the theater, so I can’t give the costume designers the individual recognition they deserve. However, I do want to echo Fouhy’s praise and add a few words of my own: 

• To the costume design team: These are the best costumes I’ve seen in an Olympia Little Theatre production, and I’ve seen plenty! I was impressed by the attention to detail and historical accuracy throughout. I especially must mention Holmes and Watson’s jackets, which I wish I could wear regularly. You deserve a serious pat on the back for a job well done!  

• To the three actors taking on all those roles — Jilyna Layne, Randy Graham and Keadrin Cain: I seriously cannot comprehend how you did what you did. You not only delivered an enormous number of lines, but you also had to keep them straight while switching between characters numerous times within the same act. The mental gymnastics alone are impressive. Add to that the remarkable talent, dedication, and chutzpah you brought to every role, and I’m left with nothing but admiration. How you kept it all straight while making each character distinct is beyond me! 

None of this is meant to overshadow the leads, Sherlock Holmes (Kelli Midgley) and Dr. John Watson (Tom Sanders). I’ve seen both actors in multiple productions around town, so knowing they were cast in this show only raised my expectations. Thankfully, they met them swimmingly! 

I particularly appreciated seeing Midgley, a woman, play Sherlock Holmes, a male character. It reminded me of theatrical traditions like casting a woman as Peter Pan, and I found the choice — and her performance — absolutely delightful. 

I came across Midgley’s Facebook page and noticed a friend described her as “the Meryl Streep of the PNW.” That made me smile, and honestly, I immediately agreed. I’m glad to know we have a Meryl of our own here in the Pacific Northwest! 

As I mentioned earlier, the show features a very specific kind of humor: British spoof. As a frequent viewer of BritBox and PBS Masterpiece, I recognize this particularly style of comedy, and I applaud Olympia Little Theatre for bringing it to our corner of the world. 

Much like cilantro or olives, though, this kind of humor can be an acquired taste. Honestly, the same goes for the variety of British accents on display. No matter how much you enjoy these things, you can't help but leave impressed with the Olympia Little Theatre. I can confidently say that Olympia Little Theatre raised their own standards with this show, and I can't wait to see how this season unfolds.  

Learn more about this production on our JOLT events calendar.

Rachel is a writer, arts advocate, performing arts enthusiast, and passionate about our beloved Thurston County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and a minor in Music. You can enjoy more of Rachel's writings by visiting her website. All inquiries for Rachel can be submitted here.