Book and Lyrics: P Burton-Morgan.
Music and Lyrics: Ben Glasstone.
I originally saw
this new British Musical from Metta Theatre (in a cutdown form) at The Other
Palace as part of MTFest 2023 in February 2023. Burton-Morgan and
Glasstone have written two previous musicals together – ‘The Rhythmics’ (about an all-male
Rhythmic Gymnastics Team) and ‘Cells’ (a musical film
starring Clive Rowe in which two strangers’ lives become unexpectedly
intertwined) – and this represents their partnership’s take on another
partnership, Holmes and Watson – adapting Sherlock Holmes into a contemporary
rock musical.
The scene is set in London 2028, where part-time detective Sherlock Holmes is shredding away on his electric guitar, when his landlady, professional nutritionist and blogger (on food and Holmes’ cases) Dr. Amanda Watson interrupts him with a case – a poisoning at the infamous environmental protest camps in Oakenwood. They must move fast to uncover the truth before the deepfakes and digital manipulations of their arch nemesis, tech billionaire and international potato magnate, Jan Moriarty, get them cancelled…permanently.
The Watermill is a wonderful theatre, and I was sitting upstairs towards the back of the Circle. It turned out that I had booked for the Relaxed Performance which also featured surtitles. However, by sitting up in my seat I could use the venue’s roof to obscure these as I was finding them distracting. Flicking through the programme, I was pleased to see that Gillian Kirkpatrick and Richard P. Peralta, who I saw in the MTFest version as Jan Moriarty and Marlon Lestrade, were reprising their roles. Holmes was being played by Dylan Wood and Watson by Me’Sha Bryan.
The show opens with two of its stronger numbers, ‘The Truth’ and the ridiculously catchy ‘Elementary’ both sung by Holmes and Watson, before allowing the returning cast members to shine in ‘The Joy on My Tongue’ (Lestrade) and ‘Control’ (Moriarty). The leads then got their own individual songs, before Em Williams as non-binary activist Yorri held us all entranced in her performance of ‘Flower’, before the shocking end of Act 1. The script was very witty, and the patron next to me seemed to be laughing throughout, even on occasion on his own. All the songs were very catchy, and the back projections and a versatile desk, cupboard and chair portrayed a series of locations very effectively.
Act 2 featured mainly reprises, but also included the excellent ensemble number ‘The Game is Afoot’. A chase across London was well realised, and all too soon the amazing cast were taking their bows, and I was having to shuffle out of the theatre, scanning a Spotify code to access the Studio Cast Recording (featuring Eleventh Doctor companion, Arthur Darvill, as Holmes) to listen to on my journey back to Newbury Station.
Very, very highly recommended. Who do I need to
hassle to get a tour ?
Rating:
(5/5)
Links: Sherlock Holmes and the Poison Wood — Metta Theatre
Studio Cast Recording (featuring Arthur Darvill)
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