Review: THE POISON BELT by Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by the Company, at Jermyn Street Theatre 21 – 30 July

‘Elegant and sympathetic, and bags of fun’★★★ 1/2

The company takes a pretty far-fetched story by Arthur Conan-Doyle, put it on a tiny, raised stage with three boxes for set and minimal props, and then have the best fun with it: totally infectious fun. Beautifully played, imaginatively staged, respectfully adapted, and underpinned with a sense of 21^st century values that criticised without dismissing Conan Doyle’s of-his-time racism and imperialism. Elegant and sympathetic, and bags of fun.

The three-person company present four principals (and Mrs. Challenger) and a myriad minor roles, by means of three pairs of identical spectacles and some puppetry. There is never a moment’s confusion as to who is speaking, the switches are seamless, and their drops in and out of character are very funny. The decision to leave in some of Conan Doyle’s questionable racial politics and have them voiced by an actor of colour was brave and very successful, meta-theatrical criticism that acknowledged the problem without slowing down the action. It was a model for presenting problematic text with grace.

The company have devised a ripping yarn about the end of the world that makes for 75 minutes of splendid knockabout fun. The same ingenuity and energy applied to a more substantial story would be a thing to behold.

Credit to Steve Gregson

THE POISON BELT

by Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by the Company

21 July - 30 July

Box Office https://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/show/the-poison-belt/

Directed by Becca Chadder. Company: Sara Lessore, Amma-Afi Osei, Yuki Sutton.

Reviewed by Chris Lilly