Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s gothic tale has it all – a damsel in distress, a dark and stormy night, a mansion haunted by a gypsy curse, a twin sister who has died of fright, mysterious amulets, wild beasts and gypsies roaming in the grounds and of-course the deer-stalker hat and pipe.
Director Tom Massey reached out to English playwright Max Green who a few years earlier adapted this story into a play, thereby fulfilling the The Genesian’s ambition to produce a play whilst still in their premises at Kent Street before they lose the former St Johns Church, built back in 1868, later in the year. The events of this play take place in 1883.
Chris Butel plays an elegant yet arrogant Sherlock Holmes with great aplomb. Kieran Gilkes ∫as Dr John Watson plays the bumbling and bewildered foil to Holmes’ all knowing persona. Danica Burch plays Helen Stone, the aforesaid damsel in distress with a great sense of charm and appealing vulnerability. Marty O’Neill, the most experienced actor, plays Dr Grimesby Roylott who acquired the curse (or did he?) in the exotic Orient. With his broad Northern English accent, playing an over-protective stepfather, O’Neill is a scene stealer whenever he appears.
In the more minor roles, Dominic Purdue as Julie Stoner, a frightened sister, and Nathan Steel playing Charles Augustus Milverton, a petty thief, add a pleasing depth of mystery and confusion which Conan Doyle created.
The costume designer, Susan Carveth, has the actors wearing marvellous clothes which look authentic for the time period depicted in the play.
Designer, Owen Gimblett, presented a commendable period set in the first Act which took place at 221B Baker Street, creating Holmes’ idiosyncratic residence and office. Gimblett however was less successful in creating the country estate of the Roylott family. Stoke Manor. For what is supposed to be a wealthy Manor, the set was remarkably bare, however I did like the use of various bits of furniture springing out of the set’s brick columns.
Despite the positive attributes I have outlined above, I found Massey’s production a little flat. This felt like it had something to do with the unsatisfying pacing of the action of the play. The play unfolds and continues at the same languid pace, and does not successfully rise to a thrilling climax, as many murder mysteries do.
I did enjoy Massey’s clever use of the gothic nature of the theatre’s architecture, which enhanced the plays’ haunting atmosphere, as if it was an additional character in the play.
When I was a child I read all of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories and as well as loving the how, when, why, and who components of the mystery I also loved the headlong plunge into the denouement.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SPECKLED BAND continues until the 12th May, playing Friday and Saturday nights at 7.30pm and Sundays at 4.30pm. The next play in their season is Oscar Wilde’s classid The Importance of Being Earnest runs from the 22nd May to the 30th June, 2018.
The final play to be presented at the Kent Street premises is Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest which will run from 14th July to the 1st September, 2018.
Running Time: 1hr 45 mins, including a 20 min interval
Considering space and cost are not a concern is publishing a review on the internet, I am at a loss as to why your review can make no mention of the two greatest elements that added so much of the atmosphere to the Genesian production of “Sherlock Holmes and the Speckled Band”.
Hi Stephen,. thank you for your comment. You mention ‘the two great elements’ that add to the ‘dark’ atmosphere of the production. Are you please able to specify what these two elements are. Regards, David
The two elements that I felt made this production were the lighting and sound. Indeed, most if not all the atmosphere of the production was created by the person(s) responsible for the creation of these two design elements.
Sets and costumes indicate time and place but lighting and sound in particular set the atmosphere. I felt that both elements in this production excelled in their achievement of that atmosphere!
Dear Stephen, Could you please advise as to what you saw as the two main elements of the production? If you could please specify. With thanks, David