Aug. 19--If you're going to mount an improv show in the style of a Sherlock Holmes mystery, it's not unreasonable to expect a certain amount of literary fidelity from the performers or, I dunno, knowledge about the very thing being riffed, especially from the person playing Holmes himself.
Sherlockians know the details backward and forward, so specificity (which is lacking here) counts, because it can also be a deep source of comedy.
Each week a different member of the ensemble dons the deerstalker cap to play Holmes, which in theory might keep everyone on their toes. But in practice, it appears to be a terrible idea. Alex Wiseman had the honors last week, and she seemed utterly lost. Because she made her first entrance from the audience, I mistakenly assumed she was a volunteer selected ahead of time. Nothing in her performance suggested otherwise.
Forget funny for a moment. Whoever plays Holmes needs to have a take on the character instead of wandering around aimlessly saying, "Yes, yes, indeed" in a faux English accent.
Too often I've seen performers at Under the Gun struggle with creating three-dimensional characters. It's a skill that can take years to sharpen but is essential. Otherwise the audience is watching moderately funny people trapped in "pretend" mode, like a bunch of kids at summer camp doing skits on talent night.
Maya Haughton was the one performer who brought real talent to bear when it came to portraying believable people, and she did it in an instant, whether playing an annoyed convenience store employee or a sweet-voiced hairdresser looking for her next client.
"The Improvised Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Dr. Watson"
1.5 STARS
Through Sept. 24 at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport Ave.; tickets are $12 at undertheguntheater.com.
nmetz@tribpub.com
