Saturday 8 January 2000

The Hound of the Baskervilles, Jan 8, 2000


Adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Avon Productions at Rippon Lea
Wed to Sun until January 30, 2000
Reviewer: Kate Herbert

Several elements keep an audience interested in this production of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Not the least is the stately and beautiful gardens of Rippon Lea. Another is Conan Doyle's clever careful disguising of the real murderer.

This theatricalised version of the novel is adapted and directed by Gerard Cogley who also plays Sherlock Holmes' assistant, Dr. Watson.

Cogley's production take advantage of the lush environs without wheeling us around like supermarket trolleys to different sites. Three sites are sufficient.

The finals scene casts the lake as Great Grimpen Mire into which the villain plunges to his gruesome death. Conan Doyle, and indeed Holmes, enjoyed natural justice.

Interiors at Baker Street, London and of Baskerville Hall, are represented simply with a couple of pieces of furniture. The atmosphere is enhanced by live violin and simple but effective lighting (Andrew Casey).

In case you do not know the tale of the hell-hound, here it is. Holmes is employed to solve the death of  the head of the Baskerville family. He appears to have been frightened to death by a giant, supernatural hound.

Surprisingly, he sends Watson to investigate a threat against the new lord of the manor, a young American, Sir Henry Baskerville.

The servants, the locals, an escaped convict are all suspects but the eerie howl of a hound on the moors keeps the myth of the monster alive.

The denouement is played out very effectively in a dense (artificially induced) fog by the lake.
.
The performances are uneven in quality and the two women's voices (Fiona Harris, Niniane Le Page) are inaudible outdoors, a problem which could easily be solved.

Cogley captures the gentle blustering and warmth of Watson and Donald Baigent is a dashing and intense figure as the smug Holmes. Christopher Broadstock is versatile in a number of roles as is Dennis Manahan. Mike McLeish is credible as the youthful Sir Henry.

The show could tighten up its scene changes enormously and some pauses within scenes could happily cut fifteen minutes off it. However it is good, light summer outdoors entertainment for the family.

by Kate Herbert


No comments:

Post a Comment