A Night of Sherlock Holmes

Arthur Conan Doyle published the first the Sherlock Holmes and Watson stories in 1887 but continued developing the characters with another three novels and up to fifty short stories. Doyle was a physician as well as writer which helps to explain his subject matter in his books. Certainly, Sherlock Holmes must be one of the most widely known characters of English literature. Nash Theatre has established a tradition of beginning their year with a radio play and tonight we heard three radio plays and those plays were, in order, The Adventure of the Speckled Bird, A Scandal in Bohemia and The Case of the Blue Carbuncle. This choice was very good as the crimes were so different and they fully showed the brilliance of the Holmes’ mind.

Director Jason Nash used the experienced cast well by switching roles from play to play and the changes were handled really well. Overall the voices were clear and suited to the character at the time, while seeming to speak into the microphones at all times - something that has not always been the case. The voices were really good for the most part, though a couple could slow down more. If the voices were good so were the sound effects, which were created before us on stage. The three soundies were efficient and on the ball. A clever touch was to have a little violin piece, only a few bars, to show the passing of time.

Congratulations to this team for the final polished product which left me mentally exhausted as clues and plots wore me out. This was a polished, challenging production as the audience tried to solve the mysteries before Sherlock Holmes did.  Go challenge yourself as it is worth listening to these three radio plays.

William Davies