One of the great things about being a Sherlockian
is that you are in good company.
That holds true in many senses of the phrase. Right
now, I’m thinking of how cool it is to be part of the “Great Sherlock Holmes
Debate” with so many friends at Undershaw, former home of Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle and now a special school called Stepping Stones on Saturday, May 25.
But I won’t be in Sussex that day, or in West Palm
Beach, where the 15 artists of The Art of
Sherlock Holmes will be unveiling their creations as part of the event. I’ll
debating virtually the topic: “Have we Gone Too Far?”
Some of the many incarnations of Holmes (and
Watson) are relatively faithful to the Canon. Others have barely a nodding
acquaintance. In one slide and 90 seconds, I will assert that – despite some underwhelming
scripts – Basil Rathbone’s interpretation of Sherlock Holmes in 14 films did
not go too far. Quite the contrary.
The lineup of debaters is amazing. In no particular
order, the adaptations and their defenders include (besides me): Jeremy Brett – Bonnie MacBird; Douglas Wilmer (TV) – Catherine
Cooke; BBC Sherlock – Jayantika
Ganguly; Robert Downey Jr. – Mary Platt; Elementary
– Richard T. Ryanj; The Hound of the
Baskervilles (Hammer film) – Steven Philip Jones; Young Sherlock Holmes (film) – Amy Thomas; The Great Mouse Detective –
Paul Hiscock; Miss Sherlock (Japanese
TV) – Derrick Belanger; The Private
Life of Sherlock Holmes – Janina Woods; Asylum (film) – Lyndsay
Faye; Denis Smith (pastiches) – David Marcum; Holmes and Watson (film – yes, that film) – Mattias Boström; Kareem
Abdul Jabar (pastiches) – Lenny Picker.
One hundred guests will take part in
person, with another 400 tickets for Sherlockians to join online from anywhere
around the world. Online fans will be able to join in the debate by live chat.
Get more details at Eventbrite.
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