Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Hamlet
at Sir Winston Churchill

Reviewed on April 20, 2023

Sophia Munoz
Laura Secord
Submitted for publication to St. Catharines Standard

What if Sherlock Holmes and Hamlet lived in the same place at the same time? Warren Bain and Matt Bernard tackle this wild mashup in their comedic radio play, "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Hamlet," a charming mystery adapted for the stage by Sir Winston Churchill.

The game is afoot in the state of Denmark. Sherlock Holmes and Watson are on the case. King Hamlet has been murdered in cold blood. Sherlock, being Sherlock, knows exactly who committed the crime… but can he prove it?

It's no mystery Erin Collins stole the show as Sherlock's enthusiastic sidekick, Dr. Watson. From his spiffy bowler hat to his delightful British accent to his proclamation, "No sheet, Sherlock," his energy shone bright and clear. During the "Murder of Gonzago" play-within-a-play scene, his over-the-top dancing had the audience dying from laughter. His Watson was a pure delight.

Another standout performance came from Madeline Corbier as Claudius. She gave a comically evil performance as the suspicious uncle of Hamlet. Her talent for sarcasm connected with the audience, giving voice to their confusion with difficult Shakespearean poetry. While Hamlet waxed eloquent about "sullied flesh" and "resolving into a dew," Claudius would simply ask "What are you on about?" which never failed to get a laugh from the audience. She went out in true Shakespearean style in her final villain monologue, playing on Hamlet's last words "the rest is silence" with her parting exclamation, "the rest is lousy."

Gisele Smith and Elza Mehdiyev showcased their skilled medieval costume designs. They altered Gertrude's fancy green dress and crafted King Lear's majestic cape. They went above and beyond expectations in building Yorick's armour, which took more than seven hours to complete. The love for the theatrical arts shone through in their handmade costumes.

The lively music evoked the style of a radio play: trumpet gags, jaunty transition music, a parody of the horror-tinged Jaws Theme, discordant notes foreshadowing the tragedy to come, and even the BBC Sherlock theme set the mood. Not only were the musical selections clever, but they were side-splittingly hilarious. Imagining a version without music would be impossible.

Dramatic irony and comedic timing came together brilliantly through the scene with the red curtain. The way Watson, Claudius and Polonius (played by Misbah Memon) would pop their heads out to speak to each other was hysterical, especially because Polonius kept commenting on how safe he felt. The ridiculousness of hiding behind a curtain for safety not only poked fun at Shakespeare, but also was highly entertaining for the audience. The scene was solidly anchored by Misbah Memon's expert line delivery.

The entire show provided wholesome fun for all ages. Despite the tragic source material, the energy of the cast and crew made for a feel-good show. Both Shakespeare and Arthur Conan Doyle must be rolling in their graves laughing in the utmost approval.

Juliana Pattison
Eastdale Secondary
Submitted for publication to St. Catharines Standard

Alas poor Yorick, can you really identify a skull just by looking at it? Maybe with Sherlock Holmes on your side you can! "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Hamlet" is a belly-bursting, farcical comedy written by Toronto playwright duo Bain & Bernard.

The play follows Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson's attempt at solving the murder of King Hamlet of Denmark. That's not where the mystery ends though, as they must also find out who wrote the letter inviting them there in the first place. Done in the style of a radio play, structural liberties were taken, with the added benefit of reducing scenes that may alienate those who aren't Shakespeare fanatics. The playwrights kept all the iconic moments we know and love from both texts, leaving a story teeming with jokes in a positively indulgent vaudeville style.

Sir Winston Churchill Secondary's production of "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Hamlet" is what happens when what feels like the whole school gets involved. Students put their hearts into crafting the best final product possible. Although the script had no specific music in it, the student orchestra learned a whole repertoire of orchestral pieces and selected the best ones to make it into the show, and this comes across in the mood of the music.

Ben Julien as Sherlock delivered a fantastic and grounded performance of the world-famous detective, all the while being absolutely committed to his British accent, and acting through it seamlessly. As John Watson, Erin Collins was a firecracker on that stage. Bursting with loveable neuroses, he was the comedic star of the show.

The dramatic crux of the show is without a doubt Sydney Roberts' performance as the arguably-insane prince, Hamlet. Contrasting with the rest of the cast, Hamlet is serious. He also speaks more in Elizabethan English than anyone else on stage, yet in the hands of such a skilled actor it was entirely comprehensible. In contrast, Claudius as played by Madeline Corbier is the craziest, kookiest usurper around, and an absolute thrill to watch cling to power. She connected powerfully with her scene partners, and earned every one of the crowd's laughs.

Tech was very understated, as the orchestra played most sound effects, and the lighting was simple, both of which served the story. Student Cathy Zhang illustrated lively digital backdrops that made up the set and made the audience feel right up there with the cast. All marketing was done by students, including Max Jones' gorgeous skull poster design and the hilarious commercials that ran on their school TV.

After having seen this show, the audience is bound to feel smarter and a little bit lighter than they did when walking in. All in all, "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Hamlet" creates in itself the greatest way to spend an evening, laughing together.

Amy Lu
Ridley College
Submitted for publication to St. Catharines Standard

The game is afoot! The reliable narrator Dr. Watson is back once again to take the audience on a journey so thrilling, one can't help but feel the mystery and intrigue beckoning them to grab their deerstalker cap and set out to solve the case.

Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School's performance of "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Hamlet" was a hilarious spectacle, showcasing the talents of both the actors and the background crew. This witty mashup of two iconic characters, Sherlock Holmes and Hamlet, resulted in a story filled with amusing twists that kept the audience engaged throughout. The show's creators Bain and Bernard were behind other ingenious Shakespeare mashups such as "Romeo and Juliet Chainsaw Massacre." The production does an excellent job of infusing comedy into the originally tragic play, turning it into a whimsical and lighthearted show that had the audience in stitches.

The production was successful in integrating Sir Winston's various art programs, showcasing the skills and hard work of its students in multiple fields. The show featured a live student orchestra whose impressive musical skills provided a harmonious accompaniment to the play. Additionally, the school's long-awaited cyclorama was put to use by student artist Cathy Zhang, who displayed her seven custom-made backdrops for the play, adding a visual dimension to the performance. Art students also collaborated to create the handcrafted skulls including the infamous skull of Yorick. The show's playful puns, wordplay, and jokes broke the fourth wall, adding a touch of literary satire and tied together the various elements into a cohesive whole.

The dynamic between the leads Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, played by Ben Julien and Erin Collins respectively, was a highlight of the production, and the charming and jocular duo was a stark contrast to the anguished Hamlet, played by Sydney Roberts. Roberts' portrayal of Hamlet dramatically augmented the tragic essence of the character while navigating the comedic elements of the script to spin Hamlet's woeful spirit into an element of satire. The cast's use of British accents added to the immersive quality of the characters and their surroundings.

The production's unique take on integrating Victorian and Medieval entertainment used a radio show as a guide between "episodes" (acts) and to include more comedic gags. The engaging announcer, played by Sydney Grosvenor, captured the audience with her delightful commentary and provided and charming segue between episodes. The bickering between Polonius and Claudius, played by Misbah Memon and Madeline Corbier, was equally entertaining. While some actors struggled with enunciating the tricky Shakespearean language, their energetic performances more than made up for it.

The live orchestra added another layer of depth, with the musicians not only enhancing the mood of the scenes. While a slight costume mishap occurred with the knight's suit of armour, leaving their skillfully made soda-can tab chainmail armour on display, the cast carried on unaffected. Their unflappable composure was thoroughly professional.

From hidden cameos to tragic soliloquizing (or was it monologuizing?) Sir Winston Churchill's production of "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Hamlet" was bound "to be" a success!