In anticipation of the play Ha Ha Holmes appearing at The Cresset on Wednesday October 2, ESP caught up with leading man and comedian Joe Pasquale to discuss his role as the worlds most famous detective!
Why did you decide to take on the role of Sherlock Holmes?
It’s something so different for me! Sherlock Holmes is a real stretch for me but I’ve loved it. I’ve especially enjoyed working with Ben Langley, who wrote the play and co-stars as Doctor Watson, and Andrew Fettes, who plays everyone else.
Can you tell us a bit about the plot?
Holmes is trying to find The Hound of the Baskervilles on the moors. It’s all about the deduction. It’s a really innovative, really funny play about Holmes’s methods of solving crimes, and audiences will love getting wrapped up in it.
Why do you think Holmes works as comedy?
The stories lend themselves to comic treatment. The relationship between Holmes and Watson is funny. Holmes is the master criminal hunter and Watson is his apprentice – there is great scope for comedy there. Look at Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes films – there is a lot of humour in them. Robert Downey Junior is a fantastic comic actor. We’re simply heightening what’s already there. It’s Monty Python meets Men Behaving Badly meets Sherlock Holmes.
Have you got any favourite scenes you like to perform?
At one point the Hound and I sing “Hello” as a duet. Obviously the Hound is just howling, while I’m singing, but you can’t really tell the difference! I think it’s a hilarious scene.
Your last appearance at The Cresset was in support of your Extra Sensory Pasquale show back in 2010. Are you looking forward to returning to Peterborough?
Yes very much so, unfortunately when your are on tour doing one nighters like this you don’t get to see anything the local town has to offer, as you drive to the gig, set up, do the show and move on to the next town! But the audiences in Peterborough are always great!
Will there be much audience interaction in the show?
Absolutely. You have to be cold and analytical as Holmes, but there is no fourth wall in the play. You can ad lib, or leave it alone. There is a lot of improvisation. If an improvisation works, you keep it in the show. Improvisation is brilliant because it makes every night unique.
So can we expect more Ha Ha plays in future?
Definitely. If this goes well, we’re talking about Ha Ha Hood!, Ha Ha Hitler!, Ha Ha Houdini!, Ha Ha Hamlet!, and Ha Ha Hobbit!. Basically anything beginning with the letter H is fair game!
Tickets are still available for the play and are available at theatre box office at 01733 265705 or by visiting www.cresset.co.uk.
Alex Jones
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