Mrs Hudson's Christmas Corker (Wilton's Music Hall)
Conceived by the legendary comedy writer Barry Cryer and his actor son Bob, this modern take on the music hall genre is unimaginable without the skills of Spymonkey, a physical theatre company of boisterous loons who leave no stone unturned in pursuit of a good belly-laugh, and with whom the Cryers share writing credits.
The (dodgy) premise is that Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper, Mrs Hudson, does not get enough of a role in Conan Doyle's stories. In fact she's not even a housekeeper, but a landlady, and a woman of far more influence than is usually implied. This redoubtable person, played with brio and a massive bustle by Sophie Russell, joins Holmes (Toby Park) and Watson (Aitor Basauri), along with her best friend, daft-as-a-brush Mrs Brayley (Petra Massey) in an expanded mystery-solving team.
There are several cases to crack in this substantial evening, not least of which is The Mystery of the Immaculate Conception which involves a trip to the Holy Land and the Nativity itself. But before we go there, we are treated to a feast of Victorian London, meeting Holmes, Watson and co. at home and at work, as well as some of the period's most famous characters including Oscar Wilde, John Merrick and a cheery and debonair Jack the Ripper.
Spymonkey doff and don characters, and an array of gorgeous costumes, with speedy relish. Physical clowning, gender-swapping, singing, dancing, baring body-bits and improvising with the audience are all in a day's work for them. Most refreshingly for a modern audience worn down by the world's ills, they walk the line between offensive and inoffensive material with ingenious glee: they are so mischievous, clever and warm that they can make jokes about Chinamen or Jewish idiom in both knowing and hilarious ways, which in lesser hands would have strict PC adherents up in arms. Cool at first, as if thinking 'What the heck is this?' the audience are broken and helpless with laughter by the end.
The performers are astonishing, with fine-tuned physical precision masquerading as anarchic clumsiness. Aitor Basauri uses his Spanish accent, ill-fitting wig and gauche goofiness to make a Watson like no other, yet he is insistent that he is a fine, upstanding Englishman. Toby Park's smooth – but often wrong – Holmes patronises him horribly in their delicious double-act. Petra Massey is the mistress of foolish characters – tiny and nimble, she plays grotesques with fearless enjoyment and pin-sharp skill. Sophie Russell has the effect of holding the whole show together as Mrs Hudson and other high-status characters – she is commanding, yet not above being just as silly as the rest of them. A great three-piece band onstage provide tunes and sound effects, sometimes augmented by the impressive playing of Basauri and Park.
Thought you'd seen enough versions of Sherlock Holmes? Think again. This madcap take on the classic, glistening like a jewel in the perfect setting of Wilton's Music Hall, is a treat to season your Christmas with much-needed hilarity.
Mrs Hudson's Christmas Corker continues at Wilton's Music Hall until 31 December
