World premiere of 'Holmes and Watson' ends ATC's season

David Ira Goldstein is calm.

It’s midway through rehearsals for Arizona Theatre Company’s “Holmes and Watson,” and the director isn’t doing his usual pacing as the actors rehearse. He laughs easily.

Most in his position would not be so relaxed. Goldstein is directing a world premiere, which means playwright Jeffrey Hatcher may tweak the script almost to opening night.

And directing a play is nearly always a stressful venture — decisions must be made about scenery, costumes, lighting, casting. On top of that, the director must coax performances from the actors that bring clarity to the play and enjoyment to the audience.

Yet, Goldstein is calm.

Perhaps this is why: “Watson and Holmes” is the last play of ATC’s 50th season, and Goldstein’s last as artistic director.

He announced he was resigning in 2013, but shortly after his decision, ATC was plunged into turmoil when Mark Cole, who had been managing director for just two years, stepped down, leaving the company in financial turmoil and with a much depleted staff.

The board asked Goldstein to stay until they could stabilize the company. He did, continuing to pick seasons, direct plays, and help raise money. Last summer, it looked as though his dedication wasn’t going to pay off: the curtain would come down permanently if the board wasn’t successful in raising $1 million in a very short period.

It did, and the 50th season went on.

And Goldstein is wrapping it up before he moves on.

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“I’m not as melancholic as I thought I’d be,” he says.

“I think I’ve a lot to be proud of, and I’ve had four years to get use to leaving.”

He’s ending his 26 years as artistic director the way most would want to go: Though final figures aren’t in, he says this season has been a successful one. “Ticket sales and donations have been great this year, and we are operating on or under budget,” says Goldstein. “I’m feeling really happy with the 50th anniversary season.”

In addition, he knows the candidates under consideration for his job, and he thinks any of them would be a good choice to bring ATC forward. And he is directing a play by a favorite playwright with some of his favorite actors.

“I knew this would be my last year, and there were a couple of bucket list things I wanted to do,” says Goldstein. “I wanted to do ‘Fiddler (on the Roof),’ and commission another play from Jeffrey. This is the fourth premiere we’ve done of his.”

Here’s what to expect with “Holmes and Watson.”

The playwright: Hatcher has a long career as a playwright, and his works have appeared on Broadway, as well as in regional theaters around the country. ATC has premiered Hatcher’s “Ten Chimneys,” “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” and “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club.” The playwright has a bit of a niche when it comes to Holmes — he also penned the script to the well-received 2015 film “Mr. Holmes.”

The cast: Goldstein cast some of his favorite actors, many with whom he has worked before. Three veteran actors are new to ATC, but Philip Goodwin, Noah Racey and James Michael Reilly are all actors Goldstein has wanted to work with. Stephen D’Ambrose, R. Hamilton Wright and Carrie Paff all appeared in ATC’s “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.” Remi Sandri is a veteran of ATC productions; the most recent was “Wait Until Dark.”

The plot: Sherlock Holmes has been presumed dead for a number of years when his old sidekick, Mr. Watson, is summoned to an isolated asylum. It seems there are three men there, and they all claim to be Holmes. Watson is tasked with identifying the real Holmes — if, indeed, any of the men is the real Holmes. “The play is a real puzzle within a puzzle within a puzzle,” says Goldstein. “I don’t think anyone will figure all of it out, and it has a fiendishly clever ending.”