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Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1

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"Who is the finest Holmes on audio tape, my dear Watson?"

The query burst forth explosively and unexpectedly from the great detective, who cast a quizzical glance in my direction as a plume of acrid smoke lazily curled its way around the noble Roman head of the genius, who was stretched languidly on Mrs. Hudson's much abused and tobacco-stained couch.

I looked up from the volume of Conrad I had been vainly attempting to peruse. It had been a dull and boring blustery London winter's afternoon at Baker Street, and Holmes -- whose neurasthenic personality was more finely-tuned than my own -- had succumbed to an indulgence in the detested seven-percent solution of cocaine that I always resisted with the full force of my medical prejudices. But, alas, even the charms of Holmes' violinistic scrapings had failed to force a focus of his attentions, so he had undertaken to torment his faithful biographer.

"Dash it, my dear fellow, I was rather engrossed in the dark exploits of that fellow Kurtz. But I suppose you won't let me rest until I provide you with some diversion."

Holmes snorted with satisfaction.

"Well, then, let me summarize the dramatis personae.

"Basil Rathbone is the quintessential -- shall we say -- traditional Holmes. His urbanity and good humor have, however, always seemed to me to be somewhat at odds with the crabbed and egotistical side of the character in Doyle's original. And that damnable Nigel Bruce -- "

Holmes interrupted, "Damnably silly Bruce indeed may be, but surely he IS lovable, Watson!"

"Yes, a charming foolish and blustery British bumbler to be sure. But not an accurate portrayal of the wise and stable individual whom Sir Arthur intended his good Doctor and Holmes' amanuensis to be. And the Simon & Schuster audiotapes of the old 1940's radio programs -- technically adept though the transfers may be -- occasionally include some monumentally jejune pastiches written by Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher. Pass me the gasogene, my good fellow."

Holmes obligingly handed over the instrument, and I refreshed the effervescence of my drink. "Rathbone's successor, when he retired from the radio series to persue other dramatic ventures, was the rather insignificant Tom Conway, whose stiff and unyielding Holmes portrayal is crisp to the point of militaristic caricature. One finds, at the very least, that the occasional scripts of Edith Mizer rise to greater heights of verisimilitude than the Green/Boucher collaborations, though the audio reproduction of the Brilliance Corporation tapes is slightly inferior to the best of the Simon & Schuster transfers of the Rathbone broadcasts.

"In recent years, the outpouring of Holmes dramatic recreations has proffered a BBC radio series from 1955 starring the formidable Sir John Gielgud, in nevertheless rather tepid abbreviations of the more famous Holmes stories, albeit enlivened by the engaging and intelligent Watson of Ralph Richardson, and the glutinous Moriarty of the liquid-voiced Orson Welles.

"Individual readings by Ben Kingsley and Robert Hardy are, of course, notable for their elegance and fidelity to the urtext. And a reasonably-effective dramatization of several stories by the smooth yet somewhat attenuated Roy Marsden can offer at least some pleasure to the Compleat Sherlockian.

"Yet, somehow, all of these renditions have left one somewhat unsatisfied, like the start of a busy day unaccompanied by the necessary fortification of a hearty breakfast of kipper."

Holmes chuckled appreciatively, a wry smile playing at the edges of his ordinarily very set and severe mouth. "What about Merrison, then, my dear Doctor?"

"Ah, yes, I was about to conclude with this estimable artiste. Assuredly, Clive Merrison has finally captured the essence of the protean character, bristling with Holmes' unpredictable energy, his obnoxious self-assurance, his cunningness, and his daring.

"The very pitch of Merrison's voice, his urgent delivery, and his sharp, sardonic tone and manner, all bespeak the finely-etched personality of the world's greatest problem-solver and sleuth.

"Add the sober and respectful rendering of Watson by Michael Williams, the BBC's uncanny stereophonic ambient effects and production values, and Bantam/Dell's excellent technical duplication, and one has the quintessential audio evocation and reproduction of the Baker Street experience!"

"Hear, hear!" laughed Holmes heartily. "My dear Watson, you speak as a true believer and an enthusiastic connoisseur." Expelling a voluminous burst of tobacco smoke from the Meerschaum held between his teeth, Holmes reached for the Persian slipper to fortify his smoking instrument with fresh fuel.

"But for my shilling, Watson, these tatterdemalion documents you so effusively praise, all suffer from a surfeit of vulgarity and rhodomantade, and substitute the sensational and commonplace for the genuine values of scientific instruction that the good Dr. Doyle no doubt truly intended to bequeath to us."

"My dear Holmes!" I protested. "Surely the public -- and I include myself in the vast multitudes of humanity that are not cursed with your somewhat detestible arrogance -- are entitled to a bit of entertainment to provide flavor and piquancy to their instruction..."

I would have continued my rebuttal at length, but a heavy step was heard outside the door to our apartments.

"Hush, Watson!" interrupted Holmes peremptorily. "Surely, that is the determined approach of our good friend Inspector Lestrade. To judge from the evidence of his spirited approach, a certain urgency in his mission is indicated. I beg you postpone your peroration: if I am not altogether mistaken, my good Doctor, the GAME SOON MAY BE AFOOT!"

I am old enough to remember listening to "radio dramas". Extolling the virtues of "listening" instead of "seeing" a dramatic presentations may seen quaintly nostalgic to the generations brought up on movies and television. I have nothing against video but there is a case to be made for a well performed spoken dramatic presentations.

Of course I am referring to BBC Radio - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Volume 1. The two audiocassettes contain 4 Holmes adventures. I was enraptured by the presentations. They were the most compelling and entertaining dramas I have ever had the privilege to hear. Yes, strong praise but let me give you my reasons, which can be summed up as actors, sound effects, music and dramatic interpretation.

· Actors - each character is represented by an actor or actress that adds his or hers inflections and emotional interpretations of the story events. So what you say. I have listened to many audio books where one person just "reads" from the printed page...boring. Just consider the difference if you will.

· A very talented person flavored these stories with entirely appropriate sound effects. For example when Holmes lights his pipe you hear the match scratched, flare, the inhalation to ignite the tobacco and the exhale of the smoke. You can close your eye and hear carriages and traffic on Baker Street, bells ringing, doors slamming, treads on stairs, the swish of skirts... you are there.

· Holmes loved to play the violin to relax and to think. These stories are peppered with music that reinforce the character and story line.

· It is my oppinion that Clive Merrison, the actor who plays Holmes, owns the role now and for all time. He brings a realistically edgy and manic interpretation to the character that telegraphs to the listener Holmes crime solving intellect and his just below the surface madness.

· The character of Watson, played by Michael Williams is very interesting in these dramas. Instead of a bumbling oaf or a semi-intelligent stooge he plays an intelligent and worthy companion to Holmes. His reflection on the foibles of mankind and on the peculiar quirks of Sherlock's personality adds a nuance layer of interest to this presentation.

If you are partial to Sherlock Holmes stories, admire very well crafted audio dramas and wish to become acquainted with one of the best interpreters of Holmes then listen to these audios by all means.