by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Adapted by Nick Lane
Directed by Nick Lane.
An adaptation of the second Holmes novel, this was the first stage adaptation that I had seen (the third novel - 'Hound' - being the usual choice. I've seen at least 16 stage versions, and have another to come before Christmas) and I decided to see it in Portsmouth where the novel was written. The novel concerns Mary Morstan (the future Mrs. Watson) arriving at 221b Baker Street to request help with the mystery of her missing father, Holmes takes the case and together with the ever-reliable companion Dr. Watson enters a murky world of deception and trickery, unravelling a complex plot involving murder, corruption and stolen jewels.
I was originally intending to see another Sherlockian production also in Portsmouth that evening (which had been postponed), so I booked for the morning matinee (10.30am), which was mainly intended for school parties as 'The Sign of Four' appears on the AQA GCSE syllabus. I was upgraded from my balcony seat to the middle Stalls, and entered the auditorium behind two school groups, having bought both a programme and a copy of the playscript.
The production featured six actors playing a total of twenty-one characters (with all save Holmes playing more than one part), and all actors also played at least one instrument to provide the supporting musical score (Mary Morstan playing the trombone is an image that will stay with me !). All actors also remained on stage throughout, moving to chairs behind a number of arches when not in a scene. Holmes was played by Luke Barton, who played him as the young man of the novel and in a manner that seemed vaguely familiar, but which I could not place until one of the schoolchildren a few rows in front compared him to Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor. There was also strong support from Joseph Derrington as Watson, Stephanie Rutherford as Mary (and all the other women), Christopher Glover, Ru Hamilton (his effete Thaddeus Sholto being a highlight) and Zach Lee. The adaption was good, but the dramatised explanation for the villain's actions went on a little too long for my liking, and they amended my favourite line from the novel from 'Holmes, a child has done this terrible thing' to 'A child did it ?' I was also slightly put out that Scotland Yarder, Athnelney-Jones, was not Welsh as his name would seem to suggest.
Worth catching if it comes to a theatre near you. (Click here for tour dates)
Rating:
(4/5)
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