USU Dept. of Theatre Arts Presents Sherlock Holmes — With a Twist

LOGAN, Utah — Utah State’s Department of Theatre Arts presents “Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson — APT 2B,” by Kate Hamill, a modern reimagining of the classic Sherlock Holmes tales.

With the tagline, “cheerfully desecrating the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,” audience members will see a world where Holmes and Watson are women in London during the spring of 2021. The production will take the stage at the Caine Lyric Theatre in October.

Though some details remain true to the original, such as the 221B Baker Street location and following the case of “A Study in Scarlet,” the play embeds contemporary elements. For example, Joan Watson’s backstory is set during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They talk about Google, and in the play, Holmes doesn’t know what Google is, but why would a world-famous detective consultant need a search engine anyway?” said Assistant Professor and Director Amanda Dawson. “Joan Watson discusses tweeting about their cases, and there are references to TikTok.”

The play highlights a feminist perspective on the detective stories and underscores themes of problem-solving and teamwork.

“If you have the right team, the right deductive reasoning, which is what Sherlock Holmes calls her own way of thinking, and critical thinking skills, any problem can be solved,” Dawson said.

“Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson — APT 2B” will be performed at the Caine Lyric Theatre on Oct. 4, 5, and 8-11 at 7:30 p.m., with matinee performances on Oct. 5 and 12 at 1 p.m. For additional details and to purchase tickets, visit online.