As Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch deliver their own unique interpretations of Sherlock Holmes on film and television, Nicholas Briggs is unquestionably one of the most notable actors to effectively bring him to audio.
Famed for providing the voices of The Daleks and Cybermen in Doctor Who, Briggs successfully transfers the clipped manner of Holmes to a new series of adventures currently released for audio by Big Finish Productions.
Not only does the Big Finish' Sherlock Holmes series feature some of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic cases from Baker Streets finest detective, but it also includes a new original Holmes story specifically written for the series entitled The Reification of Hans Gerber written by George Mann.
Sherlock Holmes: The Reification of Hans Gerber - A Brief Synopsis
When Sir Theobold Maugham meets an untimely end, it seems impossible to work out who the murderer might be, that is until a distant relative of the Maugham family appears on the scene.
Hans Gerber arrives at the Maugham household to claim his rightful inheritance of the family home adding further confusion to the case. Piecing the evidence together, Holmes himself needs to fathom a way of keeping one step ahead of Sir Theobold's killer.
George Mann Recreates The World Of Sherlock Holmes For Big Finish
George Mann's The Reification of Hans Gerber captures the spirit of Conan Doyle's Victorian London perfectly. Not only does he write great dialogue but also paints the world of Sherlock Holmes with atmospheric descriptions through the narrative of Richard Earl's portrayal of Doctor Watson.
Earl's version of Watson is far removed from Nigel Bruce's famous bumbling interpretation from the 1940s Basil Rathbone films and subsequent radio series. Here Watson's position of narrator and diarist is alive, passionate and enthusiastic as he presents a narrative that features classic Conan Doyle ingredients of policemen, murders and London Fog.
As important as the casting of Watson is the all-important characterisation of Holmes himself. Nicholas Briggs embodies all the listener could want from an audio Holmes, displaying well-educated clipped tones with a magnificent energy.
Briggs’ Holmes fires up all the excitement of Conan Doyle’s original creation as he is described by Watson in the story context: "He was like a bloodhound now on the scent of his quarry...”
Listeners Can Decide Where New Sherlock Holmes Adventure Falls Into Canon
George Mann also has a keen eye for Sherlock Holmes continuity. There are several references to other Holmes adventures including Holmes' chemical drug addiction, Watson's wife, and Holmes' housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson. Despite a nod to continuity the adventure works well as standalone, ultimately leaving the listener to decide where in the canon the story could fall.
The Reification of Hans Gerber also features a strong support cast. Terry Molloy particularly gives an endearing performance of Inspector Bainbridge, the police inspector Holmes “tolerates”. There are further strong performances from Andrew Havill, Rebecca Tanwen, James Albrecht, John Dorney and Dan Starkey. All in all, a superb ensemble cast and production team breathing new life into Sherlock Holmes audio drama.
Sherlock Holmes: The Reification of Hans Gerber has a total running time of two hours and is available from Big Finish Productions on Compact Disc and audio download, visit Big Finish's website for further information on this and other releases in the Sherlock Holmes series.
