Piecing various fragments of a puzzle together can seem challenging to some, effortless to others. Determining the culprit of a murder mystery a movement as old as human existence. Masters in the field skilled at arriving at their conclusions, a detective’s detail oriented eye is a tool that has been immortalised within many a work of fiction. A detective nation, detective stories continue to dominate our entertainment realm, Sherlock Holmes the most recognisable of fictional characters in the murder mystery genre. The Lost Estate keeping true to the tradition of dramatising these much loved stories with their The Great Murder Mystery dining experience.
Seemingly unassuming on the exterior, The Lost Estate hides a treasure trove of Art Deco inspired decor. We arrive at ‘221B Baker Street’, Victorian England, at the beginnings of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson’s pursuit to decipher deadly goings on supposedly perpetrated by supernatural hounds at Baskerville Hall – the basis of Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles. As we dine on a 3 course menu inspired both by Sherlock Holmes’ favourite meal of ham and eggs, and ingredients that would have been popular at the time consisting of House-cured Gressingham Duck Ham as a starter, Chicken and Black Truffle Mousse as a main and Champagne Sorbet atop a Devonshire Tart as a dessert, we watch the evening very slowly piece itself together within 3 well constructed segments. Simon Pittman realising an ever moving text, careful to energise the Victorian narrative and as a result picking up the show’s pace. Steffan Rees connecting us to the show’s especially supernatural aspects with vivid, suspense-filled compositions performed by an omnipresent live band.
The ensemble are charismatic, based mainly central of our elaborate dining scene, they often dart between Holmes’ abode of 221B Baker Street, to Dartmoor, to Baskerville Hall. Amongst us diners at points, they constantly shift our attention to build up on the great pace established – segment 1 chaotic in an exciting way, in contrast to segments 2 and 3 which are more sustained, heavy yet intriguing.
For fans of Sherlock Holmes, detective novels, the crime genre or for anyone looking for a recognisable narrative to entertain, this is for you.
Written by Lucy Basaba.
The Great Murder Mystery is currently showing until Sunday 29th September at The Lost Estate. To find out more about the production, visit here…
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