Described as "A comedy-drama in two acts," I LOVE MY WORK is surprisingly well-researched and beautifully executed, despite the use of the already trite plot-line of Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper. Walker includes only six characters in this play, most being the usual Holmesian entourage -- Holmes, Watson, Lestrade, and Mrs. Hudson -- along with short appearances by factual personnages Mary Kelly and Caroline Maxwell.
The play itself takes place over a period of three days, from November 7th to November 10th, 1888. During this short time, Holmes and Watson discuss and digest a great deal of information (practically all of which was factual) about the Whitechapel murders. As they do so, the sleuth covers a number of suspects, including Aaron Kosminsky, Roslyn D'Onston Stephenson, David Cohen (two of them, in fact), Joseph Barnett, Michael Ostrog, Montague John Druitt, J.K. Stephen, Prince Eddy, Severin Klosowsky, and Nathan Kaminsky. Not only that, Holmes goes into other non-canonical murders as well, such as Martha Tabram and Emma Smith, as well as the authenticity of many of the Ripper letters sent to the police and press. At the end of the play, Holmes names his suspect in a somewhat anticlimactic fashion, and it is difficult for the reader to appreciate the logic he used in forming such a conclusion. (Hint: he's one of the ten listed above)
The play is filled with meticulously researched details, which are supplemented by an "Historical Notes" section at the back of the booklet, listing the author's thoughts on certain aspects of the case. In the end, the reader is left with an incredibly realistic overview of the case, along with a number of novel insights, by one of the most famous sleuths of all time.
Highly recommended for all enthusiasts, especially those with a penchant for the stage. |
