Sheer Luck Holmes

Reviews

When you struggle to secure a ticket for an am-dram production in a sleepy Essex village, it's always a good sign. Over the years I've seen the Blackmore Players festive productions go from crowded, to packed to sold out. This year's offering, Sheer Luck Holmes was a refreshing change to the usual Mother Goose and Peter Pan productions you see everywhere, especially when we're all a bit panto-ed out by mid January. Set in Victorian times and in the era of the deer-stalker bedecked Great Detective, the plot revolves around super sleuth Sheer-Luck Holmes, a batch of missing paintings, a prince in search of a wife and of course Holmes' famous nemesis Moriarty - though in this case it's Mary-arty! I love the idea of a thigh slapping musical based on Sherlock Holmes and it's inspiring to think that director Cheryl Barrett penned the basic plot with co-author Bob Heather after passing the Sherlock Holmes pub in Charing Cross. As always it was good to see the players' members young and 'mature' on stage performing together and there's clearly a great rapport between the group. The Blackmore youngsters were excellent and three were given prime roles to get their teeth into. The principal role of Sheer Luck Holmes was given to school student, James Hughes, similarly, pantomime hero Prince Hugo and his love interest, Dame's daughter Wendy, were also played by school students; Rebecca Smith and Jenny Pavitt. All three were given richly deserved applause at the five packed performances. With so many unusual roles available for the players, the fun on the stage was contagious. Non speaking Baskerville the dog, was taken with all four paws by Irene Davis; three Keystone Cops Keith Goody, Martin Herford and Mike Jeffereyes, created chaos as did Hudson, the devious Butcher played by Simon Haskell who was number two to master criminal Mary Arty, well played by Sandra Trott. Barry Kirk was the traditional outrageous Dame, Dotty Watson and all were backed up by the chorus of John Hughes, Tracy Slade, Rosemary Nelson, Barbara Harrold, Linda Raymond, Rhys Burrell, Ken Templey, Linda Cearns, Adam Smith, Wendy Wetherill, Jean Appleton Thomas Hughes, Tracey Foster, Emma Harmston, Carol Riley, Emma Thwaite and Glenys Young. I have to say the sets and costumes were fantastic and a tribute to the back stage team led by Stage Manager Stuart Allan. I did have some minor criticisms; first the first half was too long, leading to some fidgety children, also some of the songs seemed oddly out of place, but the number of puns started to wear slightly. However, it seems odd to mention as what would a panto be without some pun-tastic fun thrown in? Overall, Sheer Luck Holmes ticked the boxes and gave audiences a good and entertaining night out, as well as giving young talent of Blackmore the chance to shine. The Blackmore Players' next production, The Matchgirls, runs from Wednesday May 15 to 18. Call 01277 651286 for details. Blackmoreplayers.co.uk.

, Essex Chronicle