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Watson: The Final Problem

 
Richard Beck Review by Richard Beck 4 Published: 15 Jun 2021 Rialto Theatre Show Dates: 12 Jun 2021-17 Jun 2021

Following on from his success at the Brighton Fringe with Waiting for Hamlet, a two-hander with Nicholas Collett, Tim Marriott returns to the Rialto Theatre with a solo show that is another world premiere. Co-written with Bert Coules, the BBC’s headwriter on adaptations of the Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, he presents Watson: The Final Problem for his company Smokescreen Productions

A grippingly fine display of the art of the monologue

Having played second fiddle to one of the world’s most famous detectives, Dr. Watson now faces life alone following the death of Sherlock Holmes. To quell rumours, and to give his own perspective on events, he decides to reveal all in tales of hidden secrets, betrayals and death. He looks back on his time in Afghanistan and the injuries he suffered, his early meetings with Holmes, the lifelong battle the two of them had with their evil nemesis Professor Moriarty and finally takes us on a journey across Europe to the Reichenbach Falls where it all ends. Or does it?

Marriott is a consummate storyteller and he clearly revels in the opportunity to bring the character of Dr Watson to life. There is a zeal and urgency running through this piece as though the story has to be told before time runs out. Fired with passion he vividly creates images of the locations and intricately unravels the details of events. He conjures up portraits of the other characters but most importantly he reveals the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the Doctor as he delves into his remarkable life.

For aficionados of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Watson: The Final Problem will be a thrilling new perspective on the life of the great detective and his right-hand man. For all theatre-goers it’s a grippingly fine display of the art of the monologue from one of its outstanding exponents.

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The Blurb:

Watson is alone. His beloved wife Mary and the great Sherlock Holmes are both gone. But London seethes with false reports and rumour. It is time to set the record straight. So Watson tells his tale of long buried secrets, betrayal and death. There is a shadow in the gutters of London. A spider's web of poisonous intrigue lies across the city. Someone is playing a long game and Holmes and Watson must face their greatest ever challenge. But as Watson unravels the story, is the game really over? Based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 'Watson' is written with Bert Coules (BBC's 'The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'; 'Cadfael'; 'Rebus') and performed by Tim Marriott ('The Brittas Empire'; 'Allo, Allo'). "Superb, authentic... excellent production" (Broadway World)