HOLMES AND THE RIPPER

Holmes and the Ripper is the third adventure in the first season of Big Finish‘s Sherlock Holmes range, and the first to feature Nicholas Briggs as Holmes and Richard Earl as Dr Watson following from a couple of Roger Llewellyn one-hand adventures.

Apparently, Nicholas Briggs played Sherlock Holmes on stage prior to the audio adventures, which probably explains why he comes across as an assured hand as the title character.  Having already developed his own style, in parts playing homage to many of the great actors to have portrayed Sherlock Holmes, he comes across confidently.  This allows Richard Earl to be the best Dr Watson he can, and for the full-cast audio to play out around them.

Having Jack the Ripper in a Sherlock Holmes story is neither unique nor rare, but it is a challenge.  Jack the Ripper is far more suited to a horror/gothic/graphic adventure than the more thoughtful/considered/deductive world of Sherlock Holmes.

I’ve only just begun the audio, and have enjoyed what I’ve heard so far.  Having listened to other adventures, I’m expecting to continue enjoying it.

The atmosphere of gas-lit London and the girls being caught up in Jack’s web has been effective so far.