The iconic detective Sherlock Holmes has been interpreted so many times on stage and film that bringing anything new to the role seems Herculean in and of itself. But David Arquette, bowing Wednesday at the Warner Theatre as the canny detective, believes District audience will find something exciting in his new interpretation.
“We bring a lot of light humor to it, kind of like Monty Python over-the-top humor, a lot of sight gags,” Mr. Arquette told The Washington Times. “It’s definitely a different interpretation, a different take.”
Written by Greg Kramer, “Sherlock Holmes” finds Arthur Conan Doyle’s sleuth in Victorian London as the Industrial Revolution kicks into high gear. As the world is changing and technology allows faster—for its day—communication than ever before, Holmes sniffs out crime as well as deals with his own demons, social miscues and fondness for opium.
“He’s asexual in some weird way, only really cares about the mystery, doesn’t really care for the victims that much,” Mr. Arquette said of the gumshoe. “He just wants to solve the crime. He’s also a bit of a drug addict. It’s kind of a crazy element to bring into it.
“Just to be able to sort of play such a diverse, wild character was a real challenge.”
Mr. Arquette, a veteran of comedies like “Never Been Kissed” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” as well as the “Scream” films, had to master an English accent as well as carefully parse out the show’s laugh lines, both with his fellow thespians and audience members.
“You have to be on your game. You can’t have a wild night before or you’re going to be in trouble,” Mr. Arquette said of live theater versus the repetitive nature of film acting. “It really does help your acting as far as you get the feel of working with an audience and timing jokes out, and riding the waves with the audience.”
Mr. Arquette, who comes from a family of other successful thespians and started acting in high school, is perhaps best known for the role of Dwight “Dewey” Riley in the four “Scream” films. It was on that franchise that he met his ex-wife, Courteney Cox, with whom he has a child. (The final “Scream” film, released in 2011, was produced after the couple had separated.)
“Scream” director Wes Craven died in August at age 76. Mr. Arquette said the last time the two ever spoke was at the “Scream 4” premiere.
“Wes has always been such an inspiration to me as a human being, as a director, as a mentor,” Mr. Arquette said of the “Nightmare on Elm Street” creator. “Just giving me fatherly advice as well as career advice. He really was a one-of-a-kind person, just giving with his whole heart and soul.”
His character Dewey was spoofed in the Wayans Bros.’ “Scary Movie” in 2000, with his character dubbed “Doofy” in the parody send-up. Mr. Arquette said he gets “a real kick” out of the fact that people on the street often call him Doofy instead of Dewey.
In addition to the “Scream” franchise, Mr. Arquette has found cult success in such oddball projects as the horror-comedy “Eight Legged Freaks.” He says typically films are just a job, with no one involved purposely setting out to create something that will touch the Zeitgeist — either legitimately or otherwise.
“When you do something that people enjoy, that’s why we do it,” he said. “We do a lot of these independent films that we get paid nothing for, and you just kind of do it for your craft. And it’s kind of unfortunate they don’t [find an audience], so when something does, it’s really great.”
Away from the proscenium, Mr. Arquette is keeping busy with the Craig Ferguson-hosted “Celebrity Name Game,” on which he serves as a producer. He has several acting projects in the works for 2016, including a new Pee-wee Herman TV film.
When asked if audiences might find it perhaps surprising to see him in the role of Sherlock Holmes, his first time on the D.C. stages, Mr. Arquette said he believes theatergoers will open up to him as the legendary detective and be pleasantly surprised by his take.
“Some audiences are right on board, some audiences seem that they’re not really sure what they’re watching, and it takes awhile for it to really kick in,” he said. “But once people realize what they’re watching, they will laugh and have fun. Then it goes really well.
“Critics are pretty tough,” Mr. Arquette said, “and presenting people with something they haven’t seen before is a challenge.”
“Sherlock Holmes” runs at the District’s Warner Theatre through Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.
• Eric Althoff can be reached at twt@washingtontimes.com.
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