Miss Holmes: A Scotland Yard Twist

From a dark room with a green door at the beginning, to "the game is afoot" said in the middle of the show, to the applause of a satisfied audience at the curtain call - Miss Holmes, written by Christopher M. Walsh and directed by Angela M. Bayler of Centerstage Theater, is a clever spin on a classic. Female versions of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson create a feminist mystery with themes of death and betrayal while defying stereotypes of the typical Victorian Era woman by changing what would be proper Victorian Women's attire to pants, hats, and work boots. This was also done through how the women in the show talked and how sure of themselves they were. This show, boosted by excellent acting performances, delivers laughs and lots of whodunnit in a cozy, Federal Way theater. 

This was my first performance in Federal Way, and I was surprised to find this charming, innovative theater at the end of a long, woodsy road in a beautiful park. While I was eating a cookie from their refreshment table I saw a display portraying the challenges of Victorian womanhood and I appreciated being able to learn a little bit about this period before watching the show because it helped me understand the struggles that the female characters in the show faced. As the lights dimmed, the director stepped on the stage and introduced the show to the audience.  

Although Miss Holmes and the 2020 film Enola Holmes are not the same, these female detectives have a few things in common: they both carry the Holmes name and have an overprotective brother named Mycroft. And despite being underestimated, these women use their knowledge and social status to blend into society and rebel against the expectations of the time.  

The sets in the show feature the hospital where Dr. Watson works, Miss Holmes’s home, and Scotland Yard, and contain sophisticated portraits and warm furniture against a mysterious London background. The period costumes were chosen thoughtfully and were effective for every character. I especially loved Watson’s tweed buttoned-up dress and her medical bag. The men's button-up suits were fitting and I loved Mycroft's cane but it was used more like a prop than a cane itself. This made me wonder why they used the prop if he was only supposed to hold it and not use it for walking. I only wished for some more wardrobe changes for the two main roles which would have made the show more realistic and brought more personality through the characters.

The scenes with Miss Holmes, Dr. Watson, and Inspector Lestrade never failed to capture my attention. Miss Holmes, played by Trista Duval, was clever in her role when it came to body language, tone of voice, and line delivery. She and Atlas Peek, who played Dr. Watson, made quite a pair with Sherlock’s outgoing personality and Watson’s sweet sensibility. I loved how empowering Holmes was to all by being fiercely independent and not caring about what others thought of her. Atlas Peek’s comedic timing was well thought through, letting the audience know when it was time to laugh. She demonstrated a witty yet sensible persona when helping Sherlock on her rambunctious outings. A serious but charming Inspector Lestrade was similarly inspiring. Played by Tim Takechi, Inspector Lestrade easily bantered off his conclusions while conveying warmth in his personality. He made for a potential love interest, this made the show more interesting to watch because you are waiting to see if he will make a move or not. Not only was he a potential love interest but he was incredibly relatable with his thoughts and opinions.  

This spin on a classic detective tale tells the story of two young women on a noble mission. This show was well done and included themes of female empowerment and being authentic to yourself. The relatability and comedy created an engaging experience for all audiences. Particularly for any fans of Enola Holmes, murder mysteries, and Clue. Overall this show was a little lower than my original expectations because of the amount of missed opportunities that could’ve taken this show to its next level. The costumes, props, set and moments of the plot could’ve been readjusted to create a more enticing show throughout. 

Lead photo by Michelle Smith-Lewis.

The TeenTix Newsroom is a group of teen writers led by the Teen Editorial Staff. For each review, Newsroom writers work individually with a teen editor to polish their writing for publication. The Teen Editorial Staff is made up of 6 teens who curate the review portion of the TeenTix blog.

The TeenTix Press Corps promotes critical thinking, communication, and information literacy through criticism and journalism practice for teens. For more information about the Press Corps program see HERE.