Director Sean Holmes brings inventive zip and humour to a twisty adventure that roams from the Indian mutiny, to London Zoo and a chase across the half-built Tower Bridge.
It starts with a movement sequence and a four-way blood pact to swipe an Empress’s jewels that’s swiftly betrayed.
A scene from Sherlock Holmes by Joel Horwood at Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park. Directed by Sean Holmes. (Image: ©Tristram Kenton)
But although Joel Horwood’s mystery has admirable complexity, its reversals and tonal shifts can be hard to follow, and at times the action stops entirely for a talky bit to analyse Holmes’ and Watson’s motives.
If the Empire is the subtext of Conan Doyle’s much-loved mysteries, Horwood grafts contemporary sensibilities on his Victorian characters by making it the enemy, and Holmes’ the ultimate outsider.
A scene from Sherlock Holmes by Joel Horwood at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park. (Image: Tristram Kenton)
References to slavery and colonialism are laid on heavily, but the entire chaotic caper gets away with it thanks to a plot that trades enjoyably on the under-estimation of both women and ‘the natives’.
There’s a comic chemistry between Joshua James’ childlike, cynical Holmes and Jyuddah Jaymes’ likeable Watson, who swiftly falls for feisty, illegitimate Mary (Nadi Kemp-Safyi.)
The game’s afoot when she turns up to Baker Street with a tale of an estranged father and mysterious gifts of jewels as Grace Smart’s versatile circular set of a revolve beneath a theatrically swagged proscenium arch, becomes a river, bridge, gallows and gantry
It leads our derring duo to a locked door mystery involving a civil servant, the death of an English aristocrat, the opium dens and poorhouses of the city, a boat chase up the river, and a quirky carnival complete with fire-eater, snake-charmer and creepy clown.
To confuse things, someone has let the animals out of London Zoo and the hard-working ensemble playing multiple roles often lope into view sporting animal heads.
Will Brown makes a sinister agent of the state as Lestrade, Patrick Warner is a comically cornered Mycroft, and Marcia Lecky a marvellously straight-talking Mrs Hudson.
And the whole show gets added dramatic heft from being a stone’s throw from the iconic 221b Baker Street.
Sherlock Holmes runs at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until June 6.