Sherlock Holmes: The Musical

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Unraveling "Sherlock Holmes: The Musical" on the West End

"Sherlock Holmes: The Musical" brought the iconic detective to London’s West End with its premiere at the Cambridge Theatre on April 24, 1989, running until July 8, 1989, for a modest 75 performances. Written entirely by Leslie Bricusse music, lyrics, and book it reimagines Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s sleuth in a theatrical showdown set in 1901, post-Moriarty’s demise. Directed by George Roman, the production starred Ron Moody as Holmes and Derek Waring as Dr. Watson, with Liz Robertson as Bella Spellgrove, Moriarty’s cunning daughter. Though its West End tenure was brief, this musical’s blend of mystery and melody marked a bold, if underappreciated, chapter in Holmes’s storied legacy.

A Case of Revenge and Romance

The plot kicks off after Professor Moriarty’s death, with Holmes grappling with an existential void, lamenting in “Without Him There Can Be No Me.” Watson and Mrs. Hudson marvel at his quirks, but a new challenge emerges when Bella Spellgrove, Moriarty’s brilliant offspring, enters the scene. Watson’s smitten by her beauty (“Her Face”), while Holmes spars with her intellect (“Men Like You”). Bella frames Holmes for murder locking him in an attic with a stabbed corpse he insists died of diphtheria forcing him into hiding (“Sherlock Holmes (Reprise)”). As Bella plots vengeance (“Vendetta”), Holmes wrestles with his fascination for her (“No Reason”), culminating in a reunion where mutual respect hints at an unlikely alliance.

Bricusse’s Theatrical Deduction

Leslie Bricusse, known for Scrooge and Pickwick, penned this musical as a love letter to Doyle’s creation, infusing it with his signature melodic flair. George Roman’s direction leaned into a tonal mix of earnest drama and wry humor, with choreography by Frank Wagner and sets by Tony Burrough evoking Victorian London. Moody’s Holmes brought a brooding charisma, Waring’s Watson a grounded warmth, and Robertson’s Bella a fierce edge. Launched at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre in 1988 for five weeks, it arrived in the West End amid tube strikes Moody ad-libbed around them yet struggled to find its footing, overshadowed by its own ambition and a fickle audience.

A Brief West End Investigation

Opening at the Cambridge Theatre after its Exeter tryout, "Sherlock Holmes: The Musical" faced a rocky reception. Critics were harsh The Times called Bricusse’s tunes a “melodic backwater” and the tone “foolishly wobbly” though the cast’s zest for the comedic bits shone through. Its 75-performance run reflected logistical woes and lukewarm buzz, paling beside longer-running contemporaries like Les Misérables. A 1993 Bristol Old Vic revival, starring Robert Powell, Roy Barraclough, and Louise English, added three new songs and ran from March 16, tweaking the formula but not reigniting its spark. The West End stint remains its most prominent outing.

Melodies of Mystery

Bricusse’s score weaves Holmes’s world into song: “Sherlock Holmes” introduces his eccentricities, “Anything You Want to Know” nods to London’s bustle, and “A Lousy Life” gives Mrs. Hudson a widow’s lament. Bella’s “Vendetta” crackles with menace, while “No Reason” reveals Holmes’s conflicted heart. “Halcyon Days” offers Watson’s military nostalgia, and the duet “Without Him There Can Be No Me (Reprise)” ties their fates together. Performed with a live orchestra, the music recorded in 1993 by TER leans sentimental, lacking the punch to become iconic but offering a quirky charm for Holmes aficionados.

A Clue-Filled Legacy

Though it didn’t conquer the West End, "Sherlock Holmes: The Musical" found a second life in Bristol and inspired a 2013 revamp, The Revenge of Sherlock Holmes!, with Morphic Graffiti, earning three Off West End Award nods. Its original run’s brevity belies its cult appeal fans cherish its oddity, preserved in a rare cast album. Unlike Baker Street (1965), which ran longer on Broadway, it never crossed the Atlantic commercially. Its legacy lies in Bricusse’s daring take and its footnote status among Holmes adaptations, a theatrical experiment that dared to sing where others deduced.

Why "Sherlock Holmes: The Musical" Intrigues

This musical captivates with its blend of detective lore and unexpected song, a West End curiosity that pits Holmes against a foe as clever as he. Its 1989 run was a fleeting puzzle too earnest for some, too jokey for others yet it offers a fresh lens on a familiar hero. For London audiences, it was a chance to see the sleuth croon his deductions, a quirky detour from Baker Street’s fog. Short-lived but spirited, it’s a testament to theatre’s knack for reimagining classics, leaving a trail of notes where clues once lay.