Sir Henry Baskerville (a wonderful Mark Beauchamp) returns from overseas to assert his household heritage after the suspicious dying of his uncle. He has inherited Baskerville Hall, however has he additionally inherited the household curse? Set towards the eerie backdrop of the moors, we observe Sherlock Holmes (Tom Thornhill) and Dr. Watson (SP Howarth, additionally glorious) as they examine the legend of a supernatural hound haunting the Baskerville household. Paul Winterford performs a number of roles with spectacular accent work, Emma Riches too performs a number of roles; first a giddy delight within the small position of Cartwright, Holmes’ messenger, and later in…
Rating
Good
Strong staging and a recreation forged make for an entertaining night on the wild moors.
Sir Henry Baskerville (a wonderful Mark Beauchamp) returns from overseas to assert his household heritage after the suspicious dying of his uncle. He has inherited Baskerville Hall, however has he additionally inherited the household curse? Set towards the eerie backdrop of the moors, we observe Sherlock Holmes (Tom Thornhill) and Dr. Watson (SP Howarth, additionally glorious) as they examine the legend of a supernatural hound haunting the Baskerville household.
Paul Winterford performs a number of roles with spectacular accent work, Emma Riches too performs a number of roles; first a giddy delight within the small position of Cartwright, Holmes’ messenger, and later within the extra severe position of Beryl Stapleton, a neighbour of Baskerville Hall.
Director Andrew Hobbs makes very good use of the small area, with the stage and theatre doorways making for entrances and exits, and forged members hiding by the wall and even dodging boots thrown from offstage. Watson’s narration is especially efficient, supported by lighting design from Matthew Karmios, which makes use of modifications in lighting to immediate Watson to step ahead and fill in particulars of transition to the following scene.
The night is accompanied by music composed and carried out by Alistair Smith (who additionally performs a few very minor characters) and this provides to the ambiance all through. In such a small area, I had questioned how they might handle the hound itself, and the reply is: merely and really effectively. A mix of sound and light-weight, with a freeze and time slowdown from the forged is tremendously efficient, the purple gentle instantly making us consider the demonic eyes of hellhound. A fog machine fills in for the moors, once more easy however profitable. The costumes are all efficient, Watson and Sir Henry in dapper fits, and an impressed replace to maintain the usage of Holmes’ well-known pipe – a pipe vape!
Smart decisions and effectively thought out staging enhances a forged who’re clearly dedicated. There is a way of camaraderie between them and an environment of enjoyable always. A second the place a corpse leaves the stage however bumps into viewers members offers heat amusement for each viewers and forged, and a lightweight scene of an viewers member changing into a Baskerville portrait is a deal with for all. With two hour-long halves, Baskervilles runs a bit bit too lengthy and trimming down one or two subplots, to up the tempo just a bit, would profit the present whereas nonetheless doing justice to Arthur Conan Doyle’s work.
I not too long ago moved fairly near the Bridge House Theatre and a number of other buddies got here with me to see this. Afterwards, the instant and unanimous response was that this was loads of enjoyable. The British Touring Shakespeare staff have captured the intrigue and the thriller you’ll anticipate from a Sherlock Holmes story and made for a most entertaining night – the sport could be very a lot afoot!
Directed by Andrew Hobbs
Written by Arthur Conan Doyle
Adapted by Andrew and David Hobbs
Lighting Design by Matthew Karmios
Sound Design, unique music composed and carried out by Alistair Smith
The Hound has completed its run at Bridge House Theatre. It returns as part of British Touring Shakespeare Summer Open Air Season 2023, additional particulars might be discovered right here.