Interesting Interview: David Harnois

There are some Sherlockians who pop into the zeitgeist for a moment and then have to settle back into the real world, much to the chagrin of our hobby.  David Harnois is a prime example of this phenomenon.  In 2014, he began the podcast, I Am Lost Without My Boswell, and for the following few years he was everywhere: being interviewed on podcasts, speaking at conferences, etc.  David has stayed active in local and regional Sherlockian activities in Iowa and the Midwest, but the greater Sherlockian world misses his dulcet tones and fun energy since life has settled him a bit.

David is one of those guys who is just a delight to be around.  He's one of the first people I want to add to every event invite list.  The guy charms everyone in the room while still energizing those around him.  If you haven't had the privilege to of meeting him in person, please enjoy this interview with everyone's favorite Sherlockian voice, David Harnois!

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?

At this point, I'd say at bare minimum someone who engages with a local scion, be that in person or online.  It indicates an interest in the character and stories beyond just a casual enjoyment of them.  There are people who have been attending scion meetings for decades, and have never gone beyond that, but I'd still call them Sherlockians.  Not everyone can, or has the interest, to venture beyond their home scion, and there is absolutely nothing that diminishes your status as a Sherlockian in that.  Some people go the opposite direction, and hook as many Sherlockian events as they can straight into their veins

How did you become a Sherlockian?

After playing Holmes onstage in 2013, and starting Boswell in 2014 I eventually got linked up with Monica Schmidt and the Younger Stamfords via Dick Caplan in 2015 I believe, and it was all downhill from there.  

What is your profession and does that affect how you enjoy being a Sherlockian?

I work for a local print shop called Copyworks, and I also work for the University of Northern Iowa Theatre Department as the scenic studio supervisor.  The latter certainly makes it hard to turn off my critical brain on the occasion I get to take in Holmesian media either on stage or screen.  It's hard not to critique performance and design elements of shows under normal circumstances, but it's even harder when it's material you're much more familiar with. 

What is your favorite canonical story?

Oh boy, that's a good question.  Right now, I'd say BLUE.  The ending is always such a nice moment where we get a moral struggle in Holmes, and you see past his usually clinical exterior.  Mercy vs the letter of the law; who doesn't enjoy a good moral conundrum?

Who is a specific Sherlockian that you think others would find interesting?

Tiffany Knight.  She's a fellow theatre professional, who knows more about costuming than I ever will.  In tandem with that, she has an amazing sense of fashion, which parlays into her extravagant formalwear, as well as her incredibly impressive cosplay she puts together.  She's also just a delightful person to be around and talk to, not to mention listen to if you have the chance to hear her wonderful singing.  AND last but not least, she's also performing in our future production of BERY, so you get to hear her voice acting as well.  She's just a sweet, talented person, and we're all lucky for knowing her.

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

Granada Holmes will always have a special place in my heart as an area of interest. Jeremy Brett is my hands down favorite onscreen Holmes, and it will take a LOT to unseat him from that spot.  In other media, comic book adaptations are (generally) a fun avenue to explore.  Dynamite was publishing an original series in the vein of the canon at one point that I found rather enjoyable. Wildstorm (now under the DC umbrella) had a great far more fanciful pair of stories involving the undead.  Dark Horse has translated French comics that pitted Holmes against vampires; tested his sanity against the Necronomicon; and had him tracking down abducted writers around London.  IDW also did a fun adaptation of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution which is worth a read.  That's a very deep rabbit hole to go down.  

There are plenty of newer Sherlockians who have come along since I am Lost Without My Boswell aired.  How would you describe the production to folks who haven't heard of it yet?

Some jerk in Iowa plays Sherlock Holmes, and gets other people to come along for the ride.  Kidding aside, the actual description is that Boswell is an entirely volunteer driven effort to produce audio dramatizations of the entire canon.  It doesn't matter where you are in the world, or your level of experience.  As long as you can get me decent sounding audio, and take direction well, you can help further this project.  

As someone who played Sherlock Holmes for five years, how did that period influence how you enjoy the Canon?

It's hard to not read things in my own voice, or think about how I'd want a passage to sound with other actors, or thinking about how a sound effect moment would play out.  I sort of mentally live adapt while reading, and that's basically impossible to turn off at this point.

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?

As I brought up comic books, and it is October, I'm going with Victorian Undead: Sherlock Holmes VS Zombies!  There is also a sequel vs Dracula.  Both have a fun story, and some really nice art to go along with them.  So track them down and do some Halloween reading.  

Where do you see Sherlockiana in 5 or 10 years from now?

Still chugging along.  Depending on the wider media world, we may get another influx of younger folks, which is certainly good to help sustain things.  I'm sure there will still be books, articles, and essays being written; disagreements about chronology; and people just enjoying the stories we all love so much.