Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Cast: Hugh Bonneville.
Unless you have been privileged to find yourself curled up with the complete works, or have had the self-discipline to sit through the master of detective fiction’s presence on screen thanks to invaluable performances by Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke, you could be forgiven for missing out on some of the more obscure tales that don’t involve the idea of glowing, spectral growling dogs, the plaster casts of Napoleon, or even the much admired trip to the falls of Reichenbach.
The Adventure of the Dancing Men is arguably a tale that pushes the mind of the keen amateur detective in their armchair, the puzzle of substitution cyphers, the art of cryptology leaves its immense footprint on the psyche of the reader and gives them more than just a tale of intrigue to follow, but a set of clues to which might break their own illusion, a riddle inside the enigma of the case.
Hugh Bonneville’s voice is one that as an actor is so recognisable and focused that it easily lends itself to the classic as well as the down to earth, and it is his ability to be the everyman that he brings to life the Katrina Hughes and Addison produced audio drama of The Adventure of the Dancing Men.
The cryptic and ominous messages that have hounded Elsie Cubitt’s sanity and brought her husband, the country squire Hilton Cubitt, to the door of 221B Baker Street in dire need of assistance from the renowned private detective and his friend and biographer Dr. Watson. Through the necessity of voice that demands mystery and presence, Hugh Bonneville’s interpretation of the characters within this deeply intricate tale is absolute and masterful.
As part of a series of voyages of deduction released for the radio during the festive period of 2024, The Adventure of the Dancing Men is a delight of the cannon of short stories, and one that exemplifies the art of decoding cyphers, symbols, and revealing secrets to which many would believe would be completely hidden from all but the dedicated, and stalwart mind.
A classic encounter from the ingenious mind of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a resonating tale supplied from a voice of class and charm. This is a tale for the fans and newcomers alike, one which adds further emphasis to the life of the celebrated detective.
Ian D. Hall