The Hound of the Baskervilles till 25 September

Nottingham

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle adapted by Clive Francis: Nottingham Playhouse
Tkts: 0115 9419419. www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
Runs: 2h 35m: one interval: till 25th September: 7.45pm
Review: Jen Mitchell: 8th September 2004

Comedy can be found in the most unlikely of places. A brave new adaptation of the classic Sherlock Holmes mystery.The challenge of bringing such a well-loved and familiar novel to the stage can be a risky business but not something the Playhouse has ever shied away from. In this case the rulebook has been thrown away and the result is a play that is at once thrilling, full of suspense and yet startlingly humorous. The adaptation follows accurately the action in the original Conan Doyle novel but one would wonder what Conan Doyle would make of it all.

The opening of the play gives no clues as to what is to come in the course of the evening. The huge screen at the back of the stage shows footage in the true Hammer House of Horror fashion; a girl fleeing in terror, a hound racing across a moor, trees silhouetted against a night sky.

Four actors take on all the roles, not unusual in itself these days and a device that can occasionally struggle to work. But three actors playing one role, all on stage at the same time and all in the present is a little out of the ordinary and what's more it works beautifully as we watch three Doctor Watsons in conversation with Holmes. The four actors step in and out of roles seamlessly throughout the piece, without a moment's confusion for the audience.

The most surprising element of this adaptation is the injection of a large dose of humour. Even with hindsight I am not entirely sure how this works so well but work it does, without taking anything away from the gripping suspense of the piece. The actors take on various female roles with the addition of an apron, bonnet or shawl without a hint of subtlety and caricature these women to great comic effect.

All the acting is faultless throughout but Granville Saxton is a superb Sherlock Holmes: intense and frighteningly intellectual. The dichotomies of his character revealed by the use of a shocking screen showing a hypodermic full of cocaine piercing his skin, whilst Saxton remains slumped in the chair, an ongoing narration describes his addiction and the ecstasy felt when the need is fulfilled.

This intensity works alongside the comedy that at times borders on slapstick. A superb production; thrilling, exciting and full of surprises.

Jamie Chapman
Robin Harvey Edwards
Granville Saxton
Jeff Shankley

Director: Richard Baron
Designer: Ken Harrison
Projection Designer: Timothy Bird
Lighting Designer: Nick Richings

2004-09-12 11:57:27