Review by Danielle LaRose
With nothing but one deer stalker hat, three chairs, and three actors, the Sign of Four adds up to an exhilarating rendition of Conan Doyle’s classic that cuts no corners. The audience are whisked around the world, from treasure plotting in exotic India to clue hunting in great manor houses to one-legged-man chasing down the murky Thames, and miraculously this sixty-minute version doesn’t miss a beat from the original novella. John Huston, Kenneth Brown, and Ellie Heath work together at breakneck speed, taking it in turns to play all characters. The entire production is a feat of agility of voice, body and mind as each character is drawn with clarity using accent and physical traits. We always know who is who and where we are, though never what will happen next. What could have been a confusing jumble (especially for anyone unfamiliar Sherlock’s famous adventure) is instead a succinct sleuth serial; satisfying for Sherlock fans and thrilling for all.
Sign of Four plays at Venue 35, La Cité Theatre. Tickets and info at the box office or online.
Read these and other Fringe reviews in The Beer Tent Reviews, printed and distributed on the Fringe grounds and at participating venues. Check out @BeerTentReviews!
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