Review: Sherlock Holmes – The Valley of Fear, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, until October 1

Blackeyed Theatre, in association with South Hill Park Arts Centre, provided a gripping evening’s entertainment with this full-on Sherlock Holmes fourth and final novel. Although first published in 1915, it still has impact.

Audiences of this production will need to concentrate as there are five cast who play 20 characters.

Added to this are the two storylines running simultaneously – one based in the time of the murder and the other set in America some years before.

The latter provided historical background that proves so crucial to the current events – it showed the strength of The Brotherhood amongst the criminal fraternity in the States. But you would be pushed to fathom it all out.

Coming to the rescue is, of course, Holmes, played superbly by Luke Barton who displayed those famous cold, clinical, yet logical deductions.

He is ably assisted by the ever-loyal Dr Watson (Joseph Derrington), with wonderful display of stage chemistry between these two.

Despite the sinister nature of the play they have plenty of humorous lines and banter that was well received by the audience. The dynamics of the two often changed, which reflected the huge challenges and tensions of the investigation.

The actors chopped and changed the numerous roles seamlessly, which was quite a feat in itself.

The versatile set allowed minor set changes without interruption by the cast as part of their act.

This intense and sinister play is riveting and keeps you on the edge of your seats.

There is definitely nothing elementary to this Sherlock Holmes case.

Review by Robert Wright