Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Innsmouth Crown
Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Innsmouth Crown is an interesting original idea, combining a classic Sherlockian (literal) mystery box with an uncanny occult curse.
The actors are all well cast in their roles, with enjoyable performances from Calum Philp and George Atkinson as Holmes and Watson. Philp in particular brings his own spin to the famous sleuth, pitching him somewhere between the manic energy of Jeremy Brett and the more contemporary neurosis of the Steven Moffat / Benedict Cumberbatch series.
The script itself is well written and engaging, getting good mileage out of the famous aphorism that “when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth”, in this case the inclusion of the more esoteric elements in the otherwise pathologically rational world of the great detective, something Conan Doyle would surely have approved of, if not actually Holmes himself.
Although effective in their characterisation, the cast didn't seem fully confident with the material yet and there were a few fumbled lines and cues. With these minor issues smoothed over, however, this will be a great little play for anyone who is tempted by the idea of a bit of genre-bending intrigue.
★★★.5
