Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, celebrity author much feted for the creation of super sleuth Sherlock Holmes, has grown tired of his famous detective. Fed up with the public attention, a public that often muddles fiction with reality, he wants to move on and gain recognition for his other works. Sherlock Holmes: The Death and Life is a play about what happens when the creation refuses to go quietly and fights back, a thoughtful exploration of the challenges of an author - but fans of the Sherlock Holmes canon will be pleased that all the much-loved characters make an appearance.
The script is written by David Stuart Davies, and as editor of The Sherlock Holmes Gazette he puts his extensive knowledge and admiration into a subtle, and at times almost poetic, script. Nothing is laboured and the pace is sharp, often with moments of humour. The solo show is performed by Nigel Miles-Thomas, (well directed by Gareth Armstrong) and the actor not only has a great deal of technical skill but nuanced emotions. His acting chops are stretched as he is asked to play many characters in rapid succession in addition to Conan Doyle and Holmes (Lestrade; the author’s mother; a medium conducting a seance, to name a few, each with a different accent). His portrayal of Moriarty was magnificently evil, but each character was conveyed with great clarity, never leaving the audience confused.
Miles-Thomas is precise in his physicality, not only using his vocal range to capture these many characters, but also with economical gesture giving quick character sketches, helped by very simple changes of hat. The set is minimal – chair, hatstand, writing desk – but plenty for the story that unfolds. Sound effects, lighting and some very apt ‘London smog’ all add to the atmosphere along with the signature violin. The opening scene is particularly effective at engaging the audience, as the Editor of the Strand Magazine addresses us as shareholders.
The show is 90 minutes (including an interval for Miles-Thomas to catch his breath) and a delightful piece of theatre which all audiences for the upcoming tour will appreciate. Those at Cornerstone Arts stood to applaud!