Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"..."Miss Holmes" doesn't turn the Doyle mythology completely upside down, and some of the twists are pretty easy to see coming down the pike. But Walsh's take suggests, with sympathy and wit, that being the world's greatest detective is even harder when one is metaphorically doing it backward and in high heels."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...Whether beaten, drugged, bullied, or proposed to, Miss Holmes and Dr. Dorothy emerge as testaments to every capable woman's battle against oppression since Eve. Despite the hackneyed premise, the performances in this Lifeline Theatre production are on the whole very fine, the scenic design (by Ashley Ann Woods) glorious."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...The excellence continues: Ashley Ann Woods’s sumptuous scene design makes great use of Lifeline’s space, giving director Holmquist a chance to stage chase scenes through the London streets and tete a tetes inside 221B with equal ease. Rachel M. Sypniewski outfits the ensemble in period wear rich in texture and color, enabling the actors to deftly switch roles with ease—and never has seeing a female character step out in a pair of pants been quite so thrilling. Lighting (Jordan Kardasz), props (Holly McCauley), original music and sound (Andrew Hansen)—all excellent. And Holmquist uses all to great effect, offering up a staging that’s equal parts technical achievement and thoughtful interpretation."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...Mystery fans and theatre lovers need to get to Lifeline theatre to experience a smart, fast-paced Sherlock Holmes with a twist! It is refreshing to see such skilled creation so wonderfully staged and performed. Lifeline Theatre once more shows why they are a Chicago treasure."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"....Of course, this being a Sherlock Holmes story, the truth of the case is quite a bit more complicated than any easy, pat didactic. For the many fans of the great detective, Miss Holmes is a true delight—expanding and commenting upon the original, while adding its own twist."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"....The entire cast is equally terrific: Chris Hainsworth relishes Mycroft’s thorniness; Abie Irabor is absolutely charming in her multiple roles; Christopher W. Jones, who was terrific in a number of DePaul productions while he was a student there, makes an excellent impression as Inspector Lestrade; and Michael Reyes, who was very funny in Stage Left’s production of “Mutt,” generates arguably the biggest laughs of the night with some of the most wildly gesticulated German on a Chicago stage."
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...The cast is all terrific bringing the drama and comedy. Chris Hainsworth (Mycroft) plays McLean Hainsworth's brother. From the start, we feel the tight sibling bond (which is even funnier knowing the couple is married in real life). Their no-sentiment relationship is anchored in equal parts of pride and annoyance. A smug Hainsworth plays it close to the vest. Although his actions continually surprise us, McLean Hainsworth is resigned. This mystery engages. I'm constantly trying to solve the puzzle as the characters evolve. A spunky Kate Nawrocki (Lizzie) plays a complicated damsel in distress. And Michael Reyes (Stamford) amusingly goes from insipid lovelorn sap to an uproarious German doctor. There is so much to love in MISS HOLMES that I want more!"
Picture This Post - Recommended
"...Any fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will want to see Miss Holmes for its smart take on the famous detective, and to discover for themselves how two women fit into the otherwise very masculine world of Sherlock Holmes."
NewCity Chicago - Recommended
"...Walsh's lonely Holmes (Katie McLean Hainsworth) is sorely in need of the companionship found in her doughty second, Watson (Mandy Walsh), a spirited rebel who hasn't forgotten her part in the Surgeon's Hall Riot of 1870, where she and other women resisted humiliation and abuse to study medicine. Together, they investigate the mysterious deaths of several women, thwarting not only the nefarious schemes of murderers and crime bosses but also the patronizing supervision of Holmes's brother Mycroft (Chris Hainsworth), who pays Watson to inform upon and chaperone a sister whose acuity is conflated with madness."
