HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES: Williams from Conan Doyle, Belgrade till 21 Septem
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES: adapted by Simon Williams from Arthur Conan Doyle
Belgrade: Tkts: 024 7655 3055
Runs: 2h 20, one interval, till 21 September
Performances: Mon - Thurs 7.30: Fri – Sat 8.00: Wed 11 & 18 Sept at 2.30: Saturdays at 4.00
Review: Rod Dungate, 5 September 2002
Great fun - fog, gloom and a growling hound - though a play and production that has yet to decide which road it's on.
'Every Dog Has Its Day!' announces the publicity: well, the Baskerville's hound certainly has his, but more of that later. Bob Eaton and adapter, Simon Williams, go for the camp more than the horror, rightly avoiding embarrassing attempts at glorious gore – 'less is more' says Williams. But making a comedy out of a horror brings its own dangers.
Conan Doyle's story centres around the curse of the Baskervilles: seemingly the heirs to the estate are being messily killed by a hound that roams the moors. Then new heir, American Sir Henry, wishes to take his place on the estate – Holmes (though mostly Watson) has to solve the mystery.
William's script is full of wit – talking of a stolen brogue 'On foot to boot' or Holmes, when Watson expresses surprise that Holmes knows without turning round it is he who has entered the room 'I saw your reflection in the coffee pot.' However, on the night I saw it, the play seemed not to be getting the reception it is aiming at – genteel smiles rather than laughs. Having said this, after a much elongated interval (the safety curtain stubbornly refused to fly out), with the audience in party mood, the second half went with a much greater swing.
I sense the play and production have not really made up their mind in which direction they're travelling and try, to their detriment, to keep a foot in both genres – kitsch comedy and horror-detective.
There is much to enjoy though. Julian Forsyth plays Holmes's genius with great languor while Daniel Hill's Watson is like an eager puppy-dog, anxious to please at every turn. Their relationship (particularly in all the telepathy sections) gives rise to much comedy. Matthew Bowyer injects great mad energy into Stapleton while Phil Hearne's lugubrious butler, Barrymore, is much to be admired. Chris McQuarry has a welcome naivety as Sir Henry Baskerville, bringing a clean cut edge to the character.
And add delightful spooky cavorting on the fog-bound moor against silhouetted rocks and hazy full moon. At a suitable climax point the Hound itself rears up in the gloom only to be shot dead with a single bullet. The audience to a man and woman cried a regretful 'Oh': the dog had had its day – we all wanted to take it home with us.
Sherlock Holmes: Julian Forsyth
Doctor Watson: Daniel Hill
Sir Charles Baskerville/ Hugo's Henchman: Stephen Aintree
Seldon/ Cartright: Jonathan Bex
Stapleton: Matthew Bowyer
Doctor Mortimer: Jamie De Courcey
Barrymore: Phil Hearne
Beryl Stapleton/ Mary: Sayan Kent
Sir Henry Baskerville: Chris McQuarry
Eliza Barrymore: Loveday Smith
Director: Bob Eaton
Producer: Paul Farrah
Design: Patrick Connellan
Hound Design: Andrew Deubert
Lighting: Garry Spraggett
Sound: Seven Wilson
Music: Sayan Kent
2002-09-06 13:51:16