Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear opened its three-day run at the Crewe Lyceum Theatre in Cheshire last night.
I’m a fan of mystery stories, especially those set in the Victorian era, so I didn’t want to miss this show. The Valley of Fear is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s final Sherlock Holmes novel, and here it’s been brought to life in a new stage adaptation by Blackeyed Theatre, in association with South Hill Park.
The ‘game’s afoot’ when a mysterious, coded message is received, warning of imminent danger. It draws Holmes and the faithful Dr Watson into a tale of intrigue and murder stretching from 221B Baker Street to a moated manor house – and the bleak Pennsylvanian Vermissa Valley.
Faced with a trail of bewildering clues, Holmes begins to unearth a darker, wider web of corruption, a secret society, and the sinister work of one Professor Moriarty.
What did I think of the play?
From the moment we took our seats, we could tell we were in for an atmospheric evening, as theatrical smoke floated above the stage.
Victoria Spearing’s set perfectly got us in the mood. The sparse, sombre design evoked both the Victorian era and the story’s sinister undertones.
As soon as the action began, it was clear I needed to pay careful attention.
With any mystery, it’s essential to focus on the clues and twists as the story progresses, but I was put to the test more so here than usual. That’s because the play not only straddles different time periods and locations, but the actors take on at least one other part – sometimes even six roles. But because they do such an incredible job of switching between characters and accents, I was able to follow the story as it travelled between different parts of England – and across the Atlantic.
The U.S. part of the tale added something new and different to what I already know about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. The Stateside action was tense, dramatic, and sometimes violent, but you’ll have to watch the play to discover more.
The actors delivered excellent performances, especially as they had to jump between often polar-opposite characters. I loved the chemistry between Holmes and Watson, which is crucial to any Sherlock story. I’d also say the relationship between the two main characters and Mrs Hudson is equally important, and the three actors played off against each other perfectly here.
And hats off to Tristan Parkes for the show’s music, which added to the atmosphere and intrigue of Nick Lane’s clever adaptation and direction.
One niggle, our seats were on the end of a row, and some of the action was obscured for my companion when the actors used the edge of the stage.
But, to sum up, it was a thrilling evening that kept us on the edge of our seats throughout. Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear is a transatlantic mystery bubbling with wit and tension.
Cast details
Luke Barton: Sherlock Holmes/Teddy Baldwin
Joseph Derrington: Dr John Watson/Thad Morris/Eldon Stanger
Blake Kubena: Jack McMurdo/Detective White Mason/Birdy Edwards/John Douglas
Gavin Molloy: Inspector McDonald/Officer Jasper/Ames/Bodymaster McGinty/Cecil Barker/Professor Moriarty
Alice Osmanski: Mrs Hudson/Officer Marvin/Ettie Shafter/Mrs Allen/Ivy Douglas
How much do the tickets cost?
Show tickets are priced from £14 to £27.50 each, and a £3.65 transaction fee may apply. A free education pack is available for schools, and online access to an HD recording of the show is included for bookings of 25 or more.
Who is it suitable for?
Recommended age is 11-plus.
Running time?
Approximately 110 minutes (plus interval).
How do I book tickets for Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear?
Call the box office on 0343 3100050 or visit the Crewe Lyceum Theatre’s website here.
When are the performances?
The show runs from Thursday 10 November until Saturday 12 November 2022 at 7.30pm, with a matinee show at 2.30pm on Saturday.
Where is the Crewe Lyceum Theatre?
Crewe Lyceum Theatre
Heath Street
Crewe
Cheshire
CW1 2DA
About the Crewe Lyceum Theatre
The Lyceum Theatre is the only Edwardian theatre in Cheshire East. At over 100 years old, it’s an institution in Crewe and Cheshire. In 2012, Trafalgar Theatres took on operation of the theatre on behalf of Cheshire East Council. The theatre was given an interior facelift culminating with a gala debut of a new restaurant and Circle Suite in May 2012.
About Blackeyed Theatre
Blackeyed Theatre is one of the UK’s leading touring theatre companies, with over 12 years’ experience bringing exciting, high-quality work to more than 100 towns and cities across the UK, from Eastbourne to Dundee.
By Colette Warbrook
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Review: Nigel Slater’s Toast at Crewe Lyceum Theatre in Cheshire
Photo credit: Alex Harvey Brown/Blackeyed Theatr
*We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.
10 comments
I’d love to see this! Sherlock Holmes is one of my favorite characters, and I think he’d translate perfectly to the stage.
He absolutely did, we had a great night out
Going to live performances like this are always such a fun experience! This sounds like it was a great show.
I agree, it was such a good night out for us
Your review of the Lyceum Theatre excites me. History of this theatre is as fascinating as the show.
Agree, fab theatre and fab show to go with it
Oh, this sounds terrific. I am a great fan of Sherlock Holmes, but I am not familiar with this story. I do love when theatre companies use actors to play multiple roles.
They do indeed and this is a production worth watching
Who doesn’t love Sherlock Holmes?! Looks like such a fun show…I’d love to see it in person myself ^_^
An absolutely fabulous evening and such an interesting show to watch live