The packed room at Just the Tonic proves that the Adventures of the Improvised Sherlock Holmes is a brilliant concept. The recent popularity of the BBC series, coupled with the infamous legacy of Conan Doyle’s books, set this production up for inevitable success. And it doesn’t disappoint.
The particular performance I had the pleasure of seeing starred the incredibly quick-witted Tom Wilkinson as Sherlock. He was able to assimilate the classic rapid deduction powers of Sherlock, but with exaggerated comedic effect. He seriously investigated what his maid had for breakfast in true Cumberbatch fashion. It was hilarious. Daniel Roberts was an equally talented Watson, Sherlock’s slow right hand man. A highlight was when he suddenly decided that Jesus was the man responsible for the murders taking place in London.
The production is rife with moments of sparkle and intelligence. However, sometimes the fact that Ghostwriters is a fairly young company whose cast are perhaps a little less experienced shows. Awkward lulls, interruption and a hasty technical operator make this production a tad rough around the edges.
However, Ghostwriters have copious amounts of talent and boundless potential. I’d keep an eye out for them in the years to come.