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Rudimentary, my dear Watson Sherlock Holmes & The Ripper Murders
Malvern Festival Theatre
** YOU know a supposed 'grisly' murder
mystery is in trouble when Jack The Ripper whips out a knife and much of
the audience giggles at the sound effects. That sums up much of this slow-moving, tiresome
Talking Scarlet production that would have had Conan Doyle turning in
his grave. While the plot and motive of this case (involving
Holmes and Dr Watson in the Whitechapel prostitute murders) was quite
clever, the characterisation was a step too far. The script by the late Brian Clemens diluted
Holmes' grand intelligence. Gone was his enviable brilliance, his sharp
edge and that special sense of genius. Instead the iconic detective was reduced to an
amiable, sensitive fellow cooing over a new love interest. I must admit Holmes fans have been spoilt in
recent years with TV drama Sherlock and the excellent portrayal by
Benedict Cumberbatch. That leaves many other versions in the shade but
this adaptation didn't even come close. Drawing the audience into Victorian London was a
backdrop of basic video graphics and dramatic, creepy music.
Unfortunately, the music is also used as a time-filler and pads things
out for at least a quarter of the show. Surprisingly, there are a couple of well known
names in this show, including Andrew Paul (one-time PC Quinnan in The
Bill and Dan Jones in Coronation Street), Neil Roberts (Holby) and Kim
Taylforth (London's Burning and Bad Girls). Rather than the gripping crime capers and puzzles
Holmes has become famous for, sadly this production became a study in
tediousness. To Saturday, 25 July. Alison Brinkworth21-07-15
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