Kate Racheter and her cat of the Baskervilles
Hamilton actress is so enamoured with Sherlock Holmes she named her cat Watson
When Kate Racheter was a kid she sang “Little Robin Red Breast” in a Grade 2 Care Bears play. Surrounded by cardboard cut out raindrops, her production number was completed by a boy dressed as a bird, hopping madly about.
This was in Petrolia, Ontario. Racheter’s Barbie dolls all had dramatic backstories. And once, at a family reunion, she tried ventriloquism with a furry, pink puppet called Molly. These early attempts at drama may be what caused Kate Racheter to explore the world of theatre when she grew up.
Racheter, 34, now lives in Hamilton and she loves exploring the world from as many different viewpoints as possible.
“Being part of the theatre community here has allowed me to grow, explore, and learn in ways I could never have imagined.”
These days, she’s part of the cast of “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” the latest Bacchus Theatre Production that matches London Born Wine with theatre.
“I’m a huge Sherlock Holmes fan,” she says “I’ve read all the Holmes’ stories. I’ve watched most of the television and movie renditions. And I’ve even named my cat Watson. I’m playing Laura Lyons in the Bacchus production, a character who gives us a poignant glimpse into the societal challenges of women during the Victorian Era. Life does not work out for Laura,” she says. “She shows that going against what is socially acceptable, in order to follow your heart, can have consequences, often more severe for women than for men during that time.”
Racheter, who works as a registered dietician in the daytime, also teaches cooking skills.
“I’m obsessed with food and it’s an honour to be the food designer for Theatre Bacchus, creating unique recipes to pair with a good glass of wine and the show.”
She hadn’t done much voice acting prior to the pandemic and she’s found it a challenge. “Having to rely solely on my voice to convey movement and all my feelings I realize my body did before, causes me to put a lot more thought into the accent I’m using and the way I breathe,” she says.
“I became involved in this virtual Sherlock show because I think all actors miss the in-person theatre connection that allows creative expression and draws people together. It’s not a total replacement for what we used to do, but there is great value and joy in doing it.”
For Racheter, Sherlock Holmes has remained a classic detective icon.
“We’re drawn to his perfect combination of human flaws and remarkable talents. At the same time, we realize he is socially awkward and suffers from human conditions like addiction.”
Racheter agrees there have been wonderful iterations of the character over the years.
“If we’re talking being true to the original work, I would have to say Jeremy Brett was best. If we’re talking an innovative take on the character, I would have to give that to Benedict Cumberbatch. I just love the idea of what would happen if you gave Sherlock a smart phone.”
Watson, the cat, is Racheter’s fur buddy.
“He’s always been great at wearing costumes and he’s part of the promotion for the show. He’s very photogenic. I always intended to get another cat and call him Sherlock, but Watson turned out to be enough cat for me. I met Watson at CHCH-TV when he was Pet of the Week. They let me hold him in the Green Room and it was love at first cuddle.”