Review: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes at Storyhouse Chester

“…absolutely hysterical…”

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Molly Taylor, Storyhouse, Chester

By Melissa Molloy

The Game Was Afoot… And Absolutely Hilarious!

We visited the open-air theatre in beautiful Grosvenor Park in Chester. I was unsure how a Sherlock detective play would work—I certainly didn’t expect to be howling with laughter within the first five minutes. This brilliantly funny mystery included Guinness-fuelled karaoke, a bar brawl, and actual red herrings.

This production was completely different to anything I had seen before. Think Arthur Conan Doyle meets Monty Python and Scooby-Doo. Right from the start, the show made known its playful intentions as the famous Jo Watson, played by Alyce Liburd, attended Comic-Con. Here the audience was treated to Pink Panther, Inspector Clouseau, Miss Marple and Velma from Scooby-Doo all waltzing across the central stage area.

The audience was quickly informed of a high-value painting that had been stolen and Sherlock Holmes, played by Ethan Reid, was inevitably on the case—but not without a dramatic and amusing entrance. He had been hidden in the crowd, only making himself known, with his usual dry, witty and knowledgeable facts, when Watson was attacked in full view of everyone.

Audience participation was not just encouraged, it was woven throughout the show, making the whole experience feel joyfully unpredictable. The crowd smiled and laughed throughout the entire night.

The plot weaved itself through red herrings (yes, literal red herrings were introduced through the dialogue), dead ends, and numerous twists and turns. One standout moment involved a trail of Guinness footprints that led our heroes to an Irish bar on Liverpool docks—which was hosting a karaoke night. This led to more audience participation as they walked around trying to get members of the audience to join in with the singing. A climactic bar brawl scene in the Irish bar was perfectly executed in terms of choreography and cast enthusiasm and led to not only the gang members being arrested, but also three willing members of the audience. It was absolutely hysterical, and the crowd was cheering and laughing as they arrested, then interrogated, the criminals.

The acting was perfection and the enthusiasm and care that every cast member put into the show were top notch.  Holmes was both sharp and sarcastic, Watson was lovably baffled, and the rest of the cast all deserve individual mentions, which would take far too long here, as they were all amazing.  

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes plays at Storyhouse Chester until Sunday 31 August. Tickets are available here

Melissa Molloy is currently masquerading as a special needs teacher, having previously spent 10 years teaching English, media studies and drama. In her spare time, she offers editorial reviews, beta-reads and guidance to new authors who wish to self-publish their writing. In lieu of sleeping, Melissa often finds herself with her head buried in her laptop – slowly writing her first novel. When she isn’t drowning in work, Melissa can be found paddleboarding and kayaking in local lakes, usually accompanied by at least one or two of her four children.