Think a single at cricket before tea, rather than a pavilion-clearing six.
The constraints imposed by writer Simon Reade on Conan Doyle’s beloved detective is an injustice to both his legacy and the audience.
Presented with a chance to see their favourite detective treading the boards, Holmes fans’ would be better advised to revisit an old favourite and just buy their ice cream from the shop.
The end result is a solid and undemanding production of an utterly forgettable script that is unlikely to satisfy Holmesians, and will leave non-believers no clearer as to what the fuss is about.
The opportunity to revisit a popular fictional character in a new setting – the story takes place in the 1920s, after the entries from Doyle’s canon – is one that many fans will relish, but they risk feeling that it may have been better to stay at home with a DVD of some of the better known Baker Street regulars instead.
King's Theatre, Edinburgh from Monday May 28, 2018, until Saturday June 2, 2018. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/kings
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