Diane Bearden-Enright

RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF WOMEN IN THEATRE NASHVILLE’s ‘MS HOLMES + MS WATSON-APT 2B‘

October 21, 2025 by Jonathan

RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF WOMEN IN THEATRE NASHVILLE’s MS HOLMES + MS WATSON-APT 2B

Get ready for quick wit, sharp minds, and a touch of mystery! With Women in Theatre Nashville’s (WIT Nashville)’s upcoming production of playwright Kate Hamill’s clever reimagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s world, Ms Holmes + Ms Watson – Apt 2B, directed by Diane Bearden Enright, brings the famous detective duo into the modern age — where friendship, intellect, and a few absurd surprises are the ultimate clues. Ahead of the show’s opening at Darkhorse Theatre (Friday, October 24 through, November 1), we sat down for a round of Rapid Fire 20Q with the production’s scene-stealing cast — Elyse Dawson (Sherlock Holmes), Beth Henderson (Ms Watson), Skyler Cole (Lestrade, Elliott Monk & others), and Nashville newcomer Jen Houghton (Irene Adler, Mrs. Hudson & others) — to talk character quirks, comedic chaos, and why this twisty mystery is one you’ll want to solve for yourself.

Let’s dive in — no magnifying glass required!

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH THE CAST OF WIT NASHVILLE’s MS HOLMES + MS WATSON – APT 2B

RAPID FIRE WITH BETH HENDERSON, JOAN WATSON IN MS HOLMES + MS WATSON

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When I began researching in preparation of chatting with you and your co-stars, I found it interesting that the playwright, Kate Hamill played Watson, not Holmes in the world premiere production of this piece. Does knowing the playwright in essence created this role for herself inspire you to approach the role any differently than other roles you’ve played?

BETH HENDERSON: I know! When I found that out, I was pretty intimidated. But, I haven’t really approached it any differently than I have any other roles. I honestly just try not to think about it. Ha!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In this adaptation of the classic, Watson—an American now living in London post pandemic and post-divorce—seems eager for a fresh start. If you were to relocate and start anew, where might you end up and what career path might you choose?

BETH HENDERSON: Oooohhh, good question! I think about that a lot, because I plan to retire out of the country one day. But, whereas I’ll retire somewhere warm and sunny, my answer for relocation and starting over in a career sense would be different. If I was younger and had the funds and actually permitted to move there, I would move to Scotland and own my own little bookstore.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published his first Holmes and Watson story more than 130 years ago. What is it about this unique pairing that still holds an audience’s attention?

BETH HENDERSON: I think it’s the whole opposites attract, odd couple, yin and yang idea. People like to see two very different personalities work together to create balanced solutions.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When Holmes and Watson first “re-boot” their detective partnership post-pandemic, what is the one gesture or moment you think defines their new status quo?

BETH HENDERSON: Well, in this production, Watson is new to the crime solving business. She is brought into it simply because she’s there. But, I think Sherlock brings Watson into the biz to form this duo because Watson provides an emotional element that Sherlock lacks.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What trait of Watson’s do you find most relatable—and what about her do you admire most?

BETH HENDERSON: I can definitely be a bit neurotic and all over the place like Watson is, and I really understand her emotional struggles. I think the thing I admire most about her is what you referred to earlier, her courage to move somewhere new and just start all over without a safety net.

RAPID FIRE WITH SKYLER COLE, LESTRADE, ELLIOTT MONK & OTHERS IN MS HOLMES + MS WATSON

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s the trickiest part of stepping into Lestrade’s shoes?

SKYLER COLE: The balance of competence to incompetence. He is a cop and knows protocol, but his imagination can lead him down a wild goose chase for sure.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Lestrade, you often stumble or say the “wrong thing.” Which particular gag or line do you relish most, and what slight twist will you put on it in performance?

SKYLER COLE: I have a certain moment with a bug where I very quickly go from joy to fear. Love any moment some physical comedy can be added in.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who in the cast would Lestrade secretly admire (or envy) and why?

SKYLER COLE: Character? Watson for sure. You may even see some of that admiration on stage…

Cast? Elyse (Holmes) because she loves Lady Gaga and Lestrade also has a thing for pop music.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Elliot Monk (the tech billionaire villain), you mask ambitions with slick confidence. In the moment you reveal (or hint) your vendetta, how do you calibrate that betrayal moment?

SKYLER COLE: A character can only beat around the bush for so long before they have to address the problem head on. Monk would probably want to live in the bush if he could, but sometimes ambitions speak louder than a scary bush.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In the dance of masks (Lestrade vs. Monk vs. public persona), which of your roles is your “default” internally, and how do you switch physically or vocally among them?

SKYLER COLE: I would say Lestrade is my default as I play him most of the show. All my characters have different dialects and physicality with how they walk/carry themselves. I actually worked with a dialect coach to make sure my British dialects sound different enough for the different characters so as not to confuse any of the audience (hopefully). Switching physically is all about knowing where the energy of the character lies. Lestrade is mostly near his chest, Monk is wide taking up space, and others…well you will just have to come and see for yourself!

RAPID FIRE WITH JEN HOUGHTON, IRENE ADLER, MRS HUDSON & OTHERS IN MS HOLMES + MS WATSON

JHPENTERTAINMENT: How do you shift between characters like Irene Adler and Mrs. Hudson—what’s your internal “switch”?

JEN HOUGHTON: Because I go back and forth between several characters so many times, and each one has a completely different dialect, age and physicality, I go through a little multi-step ritual before I enter each time.

1. I set my feet in a specific stance, which triggers my brain-body-memory into that character’s center of gravity

2. I adjust my shoulders & posture, which helps me remember each character’s age and physicality

3. I quietly say a silly tongue-twister so I remember which dialect to use.

It all probably looks quite ridiculous, but it helps!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Which role gives you the greatest freedom to play, and which challenges you most?

JEN HOUGHTON: All three roles leave room for a lot of play, which is what makes this project so much fun. Mrs. Hudson is a lot closer to roles I’ve played before, so I probably found the quickest freedom to play with that character. Irene Adler is a VERY different “type” than I’m used to playing, and she really challenges me to face some major insecurities, so that feels like quite a gift of an experience.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If Mrs. Hudson had a hidden past, what would you imagine it to be?

JEN HOUGHTON: I think Mrs. Hudson was a bit of a wild-child in her younger years. Maybe she spent a bit of time performing as a lounge singer on a cruise ship where she loved the life of travel & trysts. While that chapter of her life may be over, she’ll always remember her days of frivolity with fondness.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In a fictional “Adler + Hudson crossover moment” (not in script), what would you imagine Mrs. Hudson saying to Irene about Holmes and Watson—and how might that line reveal a hidden relationship?

JEN HOUGHTON: I think Mrs. Hudson fancies herself a bit of a matchmaker, and we know she loves American cinema, so I think she would tell Irene to go for it with Holmes, because “The heart wants what the heart wants, and sometimes ya just have to carry the watermelon, dear.”

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Which of your characters would you want to “hang out” with for a day, and what would you do together?

JEN HOUGHTON: Haha, well, since my choices are a narcissist, a sociopath and a sweet sassy landlady; for my own safety, I’m gonna have to go with Mrs. Hudson. I think we would probably sing & dance while baking some delicious sweets.

RAPID FIRE WITH ELYSE DAWSON, SHERLOCK HOLMES IN MS HOLMES + MS WATSON

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What can you tell me about your Sherlock Holmes, as conceived by the playwright Kate Hamill and now under the direction of Diane Bearden-Enright as you’re playing her?

ELYSE DAWSON: This is a version of Sherlock that allows her to be messy and flawed. When we meet her she’s having a bit of an identity crisis as she feels unmoored without a case to entertain her busy brain. Then, throughout the show Sherlock gets to prove her prowess repeatedly but we also see her struggle in the face of some difficult mysteries and characters that throw her off balance.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s one non-logical, emotional thing your version of Holmes secretly does when no one’s watching?

ELYSE DAWSON: Sherlock most definitely shares her most intimate thoughts and feelings with Mr. Bones (the skeleton that resides in Apartment 2B).

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Do you have a favorite detective in TV, film, or literature (besides Holmes herself)?

ELYSE DAWSON: I grew up an avid reader of The Boxcar Children and the Bailey School Kids series. I think reading them as a kid, I found something really empowering about children who have such little control over their circumstances taking matters into their own hands to make sense of the world around them. I see that reflected a lot in Sherlock. She gets her sense of security from organizing and understanding facts very deeply. Oh and of course the Mystery Gang from Scooby Doo. I love how each member brings their own strengths and weaknesses together to solve the case.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In the “process is the point” monologue , which phrase do you lean most into in performance, and why?

ELYSE DAWSON: In that monologue, I lean into her explanation of the process being the point. She describes it as “The joy of the chase, not control of the hunt”. This particular monologue really resonates with me as an actor. It’s easy to get fixated on a final product: the show that’s presented to the audience; but I find the most joy and freedom comes from the exploratory rehearsal process. Sherlock is the most in her element when she’s on the case.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do you hope audiences take with them after having seen WIT’s production of MS HOLMES + MS WATSON-Apt 2B?

ELYSE DAWSON: I hope that audiences leave with a renewed sense of wonder and curiosity. One of the big themes in this show is the marvel of the human mind. Isn’t it incredible that we have the capacity not just for extraordinary reasoning and logic but also infinite access to imagination without having to rely on technology or externals? I hope they are also reminded of our shared necessity for human connection and vulnerability. Holmes and Watson both start this play with the idea that they are on their own individual journeys but by the end, it’s made very clear that much more can be accomplished when they connect, shortcomings and all.

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This Rapid Fire 20Q might have concluded, but rest assured the game is afoot! Don’t miss WIT Nashville’s production of Ms Holmes + Ms Watson – Apt 2B, directed by Diane Bearden-Enright, running October 24 – November 1 at Darkhorse Theatre. Tickets are $25 and on sale now — CLICK HERE to get yours before they vanish faster than a clue at a crime scene!

Be sure and check out WIT’s Official Site and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, follow us on Facebook, Insta and Twitter.

Rapid Fire 20Q with Cast of ‘The 39 Steps’; Opening at Playhouse 615 February 16

February 16, 2024 by Jonathan

Based upon the 1915 adventure novel by John Buchanan, The 39 Steps garnered a wider audience in 1935 when Alfred Hitchcock directed his mystery thriller variation of the story. The plot and presentation underwent a decidedly comedic interpretation in the mid-90s when Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon wrote a stage play based on the work premiered. In 2005, playwright Patrick Barlow further adapted the stage play. In the current iteration of the play, every single character from Hitchcock’s film is played by a four-member cast, and comedy ensues. That adaptation of The 39 Steps is opening Friday, February 16 at Playhouse 615 (11920 Lebanon Rd, Mt. Juliet, TN) Directed by Diane Bearden-Enright, Playhouse 615‘s The 39 Steps stars Philip David Black, Erin Grace Bailey, Alyssa Borg and Barclay Randall.

As the cast was preparing for opening night, I recently had the chance to chat with them for my latest Rapid Fire 20Q. What follows are those conversations.

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST OF PLAYHOUSE 615’s THE 39 STEPS
RAPID FIRE WITH THE 39 STEPS’ CLOWN 2, ALYSSA BORG

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand this is your first time on stage at Playhouse 615. What’s the experience like so far?
ALYSSA BORG: Working with Playhouse 615 for The 39 Steps has been a hoot! From the moment I stepped into the theater for auditions, each rehearsal has been filled with laughs. For me, Playhouse 615 has proven to be the epitome of community theater in the best possible way – performers, technicians, designers, all working together to create this magical and ephemeral beast (a play) all because they love the art of theater.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You’re playing Clown 2…what’s your favorite aspect of the role?
ALYSSA BORG: Haha, well, first, I love that I’m Clown #2 – in my mind there was obviously some sort of placement competition in the clowning community, like landing second chair in an orchestra. And having worked as a paid mime long, long ago, I love the physicality of this kind of comedy, plus it’s a fun acting challenge to play so many different characters with different accents.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of the different characters, of the multiple roles you play, do you have a favorite?
ALYSSA BORG: Mr. McGarriggle, hands down. Drunk. Scottish. Lots of one word responses. What’s not to love?

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s the most challenging aspect of portraying multiple roles in a single show?
ALYSSA BORG: Remembering all the costume changes.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Clown 2, you share the stage with Barclay Randall, who’s playing Clown 1. I’m about to chat with Barclay, so I gotta know…How is Barclay as a scene partner?
ALYSSA BORG: Oh, Barclay. He’s Clown #1 for a reason. Also I will say, I now know too much about Barclay’s love of breasts – mainly the pair he wears in the show.

RAPID FIRE WITH BARCLAY RANDALL, THE 39 STEPS’ CLOWN 1
JHPENTERTAINMENT: When you tell folks you’re playing Clown 1 in The 39 Steps, how do you describe your role(s) in the show?
BARCLAY RANDALL: First off, when I tell my friends I’m playing a character called “Clown 1”, they respond, “Ah. Typecasting.” Then I explain it’s actually something like 15 different characters who are all goofy, fun, farcical caricatures. Again, “Ah. Typecasting.”

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Just prior to chatting with you, I spoke with Alyssa Borg and asked her about sharing the stage with you…so I’ll return the favor. How is Alyssa as a scene partner?
BARCLAY RANDALL: Wonderful! Alyssa’s trained in improv and has come up with some great bits during rehearsals that take the comedy to a higher level. Or maybe it’s a lower level? Whichever, it’s a funnier level.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Playhouse 615’s The 39 Steps is being directed by Diane Bearden-Enright. Like myself, you’ve known Diane for years. What’s she like as a director?
BARCLAY RANDALL: She’s a very funny lady. Always has been. At least in the mmm-mmm-mmm decades I’ve known her. And she understands comedy. She can find the beats in a scene. She can find the funny in a scene. And she’s making us doing ridiculous things! I love her!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Mr. Memory is among the characters you portray in The 39 Steps. Staying on theme with his talent of remembering things…what’s the most random piece of trivia that takes up space in your brain?
BARCLAY RANDALL: The second European explorer to step foot into what is now Tennessee—the second, mind you, not the first, who was Hernando DeSoto—but the second, was named Juan Pardo. That’s the one thing I remember from Tennessee History in college at MTSU.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Can we just talk about the train scene in which you play…what?…three or four characters within a matter of seconds? How much fun are you having with that?
BARCLAY RANDALL: The train scene is a great distillation of the entire show: lightning-paced and physical and over-the-top. In that scene, I get to play a foppish underwear salesman, an adolescent boy, an old lady, and a Scottish cop, all in the span of a couple of minutes. I think if I keep working it, and don’t die, it’ll be pretty funny.

RAPID FIRE WITH ERIN GRACE BAILEY, THE 39 STEPS’ ANNABELLA, MARGARET & PAMELA

JHPENTERTAINMENT: To start things off can you describe each of the three characters you play in Playhouse 615’s The 39 Steps using only one word for each of them?
ERIN GRACE BAILEY: Margaret – Sugar, Annabella – Spice, Pamela – Everything Nice (I know that’s two words, but it was too good of a quip not to use.)

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Early on, Annabella’s death scene is typically played with some fun almost slapstick physicality. In fact, the entire show is resplendent with over-the-top laughter inducing action. How much fun are you and your cast mates having with that aspect of the show?
ERIN GRACE BAILEY: It’s been an amazing and really refreshing experience. I think most actors would agree that high comedy like this is a muscle that most of us don’t get to stretch very often, so I really try to appreciate it when the opportunity arrives. It’s so wonderful to be able to walk into a rehearsal room and truly just “play.”

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If you had to pick…and I guess since I’m asking, you do…of the three characters you’re playing, who’s your favorite and why?
ERIN GRACE BAILEY: Each character is pretty different, which is a fun challenge, especially since a lot of female comedy characters tend to get bogged down in being one thing. Personally, I think I resonate the most with Pamela. Some of that’s probably because she appears in the show longer than the other two characters, so she has a little more depth. She’s got a tough exterior, but deep down, she’s a hopeless romantic which gives me a lot to play with for her.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I love that the play is peppered with nods to Alfred Hitchcock, who, of course, directed the 1935 film adaptation loosely based on the original 1915 adventure novel. Prior to being cast, were you familiar with the show and its history?
ERIN GRACE BAILEY: Not thoroughly. I love old movies and had heard of it, but I didn’t have a lot of background knowledge. I have watched it since being cast, of course. It’s actually quite shocking how much of the play’s script parallels with the film. It really proves how much context affects how you read dialogue. Aside from the text though, it’s been fun explaining this show to those who haven’t heard of it. When they hear the name Alfred Hitchcock, they usually get pretty excited.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Like the Hitchcock film, the play takes place in and around London in 1935. Had you lived in that time, what do you think you’d have enjoyed most about the era?
ERIN GRACE BAILEY: The theatre! I think we’ve discussed before how much I love British comedy. Noel Coward‘s one of my favorite playwrights, and he was really starting to make a name for himself around this time. I would love to go back and see one of his shows. I often think about how exciting it must have been to get dressed up and go out and see a show, especially before television.

RAPID FIRE WITH PHILIP DAVID BLACK, THE 39 STEPS’ RICHARD HANNAY

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A quick peek at your show bio reveals that while you were recently an understudy in another area production, being cast as Richard Hannay in Playhouse 615’s The 39 Steps marks your Tennessee premiere on-stage. How has the experience been thus far?

PHILIP DAVID BLACK: It’s been great to act again. I used to perform a good bit right out of college, but it’s been a minute. Also, almost all of the acting work I did in times past involved travel to parts of the country where I had no family or friends, so it’s a special treat to get to play this part and have loved ones actually close enough that I can reasonably guilt trip them into attendance.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Who is Richard Hannay to you?
PHILIP DAVID BLACK: He’s a lost soul. He’s a Brit that has been living abroad in Canada and has only recently returned to London. So as our story starts, he’s pretty isolated and out of sorts. Even though this story is set in the 1930s, I feel like he’s very relatable to today, when a lot of us find ourselves both isolated and a bit depressed. But he’s about to have an awfully big adventure.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As the show’s title indicates, much of the action revolves around a mysterious organization known as The 39 Steps. IF you were to found a mysterious organization of your own, what would it be called and what would its purpose be?

PHILIP DAVID BLACK: If I were to found a mysterious organization, I would never reveal its secrets. However, assuming I am too lazy to do so and/or I am not simply covering for a much more sinister organization I have in fact already started, let’s pretend it would be called the Brotherhood of Suspense. It would be a secret society of people who believe suspenders are better than belts and who signal their allegiance to each other with strange codes and seemingly insignificant hand gestures. We would exist to bring down the belt industry. And we would succeed.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Give me a plot summary in ten words or less.
PHILIP DAVID BLACK: Four actors. One hundred and fifty characters. Comedic adventure ensues.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do you hope audiences take away from The 39 Steps?
PHILIP DAVID BLACK: I hope that watching the cast run around like crazy people performing such a demanding show reminds them that life is an adventure, and that small groups of people can get a lot done when they work together to achieve positive things in the world. And I hope they laugh at the jokes.

Playhouse 615‘s The 39 Steps opens Friday, February 16 and runs through Sunday, March 3 with shows at 7:30p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2:30p.m. Tickets are $20 ($17 for Military & Seniors) and are available for purchase HERE, by calling the box-office at 615.319.7031, or at the door an hour before each performance.

Next up at Playhouse 615 is Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, on stage March 21 thru April 29. For more on the show and to keep up with Playhouse 615, check out their website or find them on Facebook.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music and movie offerings, find us at JHPEntertainment on Facebook, JHPEntertainment on Instagram and JHPEntertainment on Twitter.

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