What if Holmes and Watson were women? And what if these two brilliant minds lived in 1890’s Victorian England? 

Love Street Playhouse is presenting the murder mystery, Miss Holmes, a play by Christopher M. Walsh playing October 7-23 at Love Street Playhouse, 126 Loves Ave in Woodland. Single tickets are $22 and are on sale at www.lovestreetplayhouse.com. 

Taken from the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes and Watson are back on the case of what is a clear-cut murder, at least it is according to Sherlock Holmes. For fans of Holmes and Watson, Love Street’s production will have all the mystery and action that you expect but this time the author has added a twist that even Sir Arthur would find compelling, especially today.   

What if Holmes and Watson were women? And what if these two brilliant minds lived in 1890’s Victorian England? Picture if you will a woman in a straitjacket, living in an asylum, put there by her own brother, who must remind his sister that her behaviors will not be tolerated, and her actions are disrupting his position in government. “Sherlock, these interruptions require a degree of discretion that is difficult for me to maintain when I have to drop everything to hunt you down, cover your tracks and repair whatever damage you may have caused whenever you go on one of your tantrums.”   

One might expect that by 1890’s standards, this might have been acceptable, but doesn’t that fight continue even today? This is the ultimate battle for equality, equity and inclusion into a world that will lock you down if you are a woman who dares to stand up and fight.  

Holmes and Watson, played brilliantly by local actors Kristen Johnson of Vancouver and Julisa Wright of Longview, both bring toughness to the roles with bold character choices and a yearning to fight the oppression of the times. The belief that women are just not good enough has finally met its match in Miss Holmes.  

With an outstanding supporting cast and the keen ability of director David Bareford to pull out the best from each actor, this powerful combination gives each character the raw gravitas needed to inspire excellence in these very demanding roles.  

Dedicated to the women in our lives who inspire us every day!  

Director David Bareford of Woodland has assembled a talented cast of seasoned veterans for this fascinating production. Starring in Miss Holmes is Kristen Johnson of Vancouver playing the title role of Sherlock Holmes; Julisa Wright of Longview playing Dr. Dorothy Watson; Katie Klaus of Ridgefield as Lizzie Chap.m.an, Peggy and Martha; Brenda McGinnis of Vancouver as Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Mrs. Hudson, and Eudora Featherstone; Adam Pithan of Longview as Mycroft Holmes; Larry E Fox of Longview as Geoffrey Lestrade; Wayne Yancey of Vancouver as Michael Stamford and Reginald; David Roberts of Vancouver as Thomas Chap.m.an; and Ryan Gaylor of Longview as Edwin Greener and the Superintendent. Understudies for this production include Kenzie Yancey of Vancouver as Dorothy Watson; Samantha Hansen of Vancouver as Lizzie Chap.m.an; and Christine Pozzi of Vancouver as Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Mrs. Hudson and Eudora Featherstone. 

The creative team

The creative team includes David Bareford (director, set design and violence design); Love Street Playhouse Owner and Artistic Director Melinda Pallotta (producer), Love Street Owner Lou Pallotta (managing director), Mikail Nordquist of Longview (lighting design), Sabrena Worthy of Vancouver (costume design) Autumn Bochart of Ridgefield (sound design), and Samantha Hansen of Washougal (stage manager). 

Single tickets to Miss Holmes start at $22 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.LoveStreetPlayhouse.com or by phone at (800) 966-8865. Performances run October 7-23.  

Performance times:  

Friday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m. 

Saturday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m.,  

Sunday, October 9 at 2:00 p.m.,  

Friday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m.,  

Saturday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m.,  

Sunday, October 16 at 2 p.m. 

Thursday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. 

Friday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m.,  

Saturday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m.,  

Sunday, October 23 at 2 p.m..    

Local businesses contributing to Love Street Playhouse include Holland America Flowers, Benno Dobbe, Owner and President, Columbia Bank, Mapleridge House Air BnB in Woodland, Lewis River Studios of Woodland, Third Street Villas in Woodland, Business Cents NW of Vancouver, Woodland Truck Line, Woodland Funeral Home, Erica Rodman of Woodland Real Estate, Lelooska Foundation, Crisp Home Connection of Woodland.