Holmeses and Holmeses

[eponymous_rose]

Have started listening to Petherbridge!Holmes's version of "A Study in Scarlet"! It's excellent, definitely, though I keep getting thrown off because I seem to have learned the Merrison/Williams version word-for-word at some point. Ahem. ("Do you think he might be... addicted to something?" "He seems like a perfectly healthy dog to me!") But yes, Watson has fun inner monologues over Holmes's long ramblings. And Holmes keeps barging in on poor sleepy Watson to tell him about, um, burning human skin and things.

It's always fun to see what they do with the whole "Sherlock Holmes: His Limits" list, because that is Not An Easy Thing to get across in audio. The Coules approach was to have Holmes read it beforehand when Watson fails to totally burn it, and then to launch into a non-sequiturish recitation of it, complete with violin-type accompaniment, while Watson just goes "...Holmes?" Can't beat that. The bizarre dream sequence in this version is pretty neat, if a bit on the expositiony side.

And now for my usual plug of the Merrison/Williams audios:

I relistened to "The Lion's Mane" (had to have another listen because I totally missed the Man from U.N.C.L.E. in-joke the first time around. I have to listen again to the one with Tom Baker, too!), and that right there is why I love the Coules audios so much. They are, and I don't use this word lightly, perfect. Practically perfect in every way. Even a story that is not exactly sparkling in canon becomes amazing (but then, I adore two-handers - of course, the only other one I can think of at the moment is Scherzo, which is also spectacular).

The fact that there exists a complete full-cast Holmesian canon, with an excellent budget, phenomenal writers, a marvelous supporting cast (Dame Judi Dench!), and the two most brilliant principals you could possibly hope for - well, I absolutely cannot recommend it enough. If you're a Holmes fan and you haven't listened to these, you're missing out on something incredible. If you're not a Holmes fan and you haven't listened to these, you're still missing out.

...I think this would be some bottled-up Holmes geekiness, there. Blame Bert Coules and Steven Moffat for arguing about Watsons on the OG that one time.

Comments

[settiai]

Speaking of which, have I thanked you recently for introducing me to the brilliance that is those audios? ;-)

[tigerkat24.livejournal.com]

...what Judi Dench is a Holmes audio where.

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

I just listened to "The Lion's Mane" last night. It is unbelievably wonderful. (I happen to like the original story, too, but I think I'm the only one.)

In particular, I love the way Coules uses this story to think about the legacy of Sherlock Holmes--whether through the stuff about the infamous play or the joyously geeky allusions to other famous crimefighters.

[pockyandkoalas.livejournal.com]

Is there a free and possibly illegal version of these audios lurking somewhere on the internet?

[tree_and_leaf]

I don't know, but the Merrison Holmes' plays are currently being repeated on BBC 7 - you can certainly listen live and you can also get them streaming for up to a week after transmission. They really are brilliant.

[amaresu]

You know I downloaded a bunch of those at one point in time. They are sitting on my hard drive begging me to listen to them. Every time you post about Holmes I get a renewed sense of purpose towards them, but it never lasts very long. I think the solution is for you to post about Holmes more often.

[chatastic.livejournal.com]

Blame Bert Coules and Steven Moffat for arguing about Watsons on the OG that one time.

What is this? Can you direct me to it? If OG is Outpost Gallifrey and not Opera Ghost, I guess I'm halfway there, but I avoid the former like the plague. But LO I would risk it for a convo on Watsons. zomg.

Well...

[(Anonymous)]

Well, what can I say? "Thanks" seems somewhat inadequate, really.

Oh, yes: don't download them, you stingy buggers. Buy the things!

Bert Coules
www.bertcoules.co.uk

Re: Well...

[eponymous-rose.livejournal.com]

Added incentive for buying vs. downloading: the beautiful packaging! Who wouldn't love to have a nice Holmes-themed box to put things in? It certainly beats the coal-scuttle and the Persian slipper, which have a tendency to scratch the discs.

I've just started an epic re-listening of the entire canon, so I expect people will be getting an earful of recommendations over the next little while!

[scarletsherlock.livejournal.com]

omg Bert Coules! *fangirls*

I must do an epic relisten sometime soon, too. The radio in my car no longer works, though, so I have to figure out how to do this. Argh.

I forgot to thank you for the lj birthday gift by the way! *hugs*