Rudolf Steiner Theatre, London- until 18th August
Reviewed by Keiley Archer
4.5****
Sherlock Holmes and the Invisible Thing follows the mystery of a murder which is seemingly committed by an invisible criminal. Underlying tensions emerge as the Holmes and Watson investigate the crime, while the ‘Invisible Thing’ lurks around the house. Written by Greg Freeman, the mystery keeps the audience guessing until the very end, which involves a surprising twist on the crime.
The audience is welcomed into the intimate setting of the Rudolf Steiner Theatre with the chilling sound of the wind, the backdrop of a Victorian household ahead on the stage with extremely high attention to detail. Before the play has even begun, the traditional Sherlockian ambiance is created. The theatre itself could not be situated in a more fitting location, just off Baker Street, where Holmes famously resides.
Stephen Chance embodies Holmes perfectly, demonstrating his proficiency in logical reasoning and observation from the moment he enters the stage in the classic deerstalker hat and inverness cape. His exchanges with Watson, played by Philip Mansfield, are a joy to watch on stage as they recreate the iconic crime-solving duo. Humour is woven into the script well, particularly through the contrast of Holmes’ clever deductions against Detective Peacock’s (played by Doug Cooper) comedic substandard detective work, as well as the continued bickering between Holmes and Lucy Grendle (played by Vanessa Faye-Stanley).
The cast are able to captivate the audience from beginning to end, even when referring back to scenes which occurred offstage. It was easy to visualise these scenes without having to have them physically performed on stage. The entire duration of the play remains in the Grendle household, allowing the audience to feel involved in the crime solving process, as they experience it the same way as the detectives.
It is a cleverly written play which presents the well-loved characters in a unique case that invites audible gasps from the audience while leaving you on the edge of your seat until the dramatic reveal at the very end. It is definitely a must see, particularly for fans of Sherlock and whodunnit mysteries