AD-Gifted
The Hound of the Baskervilles is at The Lowry and as a self-professed sleuth, I was well up for a night of deduction.
As the opening production to celebrate Octagon Theatres brand new building, this play was such a hit that’s it’s now on tour for the country to enjoy.
And this adaptation is quite unusual. Firstly, because it’s a comedy. Secondly, because every single character is played by only 3 actors. And finally, because they break the fourth wall and talk directly to the audience.
Don’t forget to read my review of comedies, Rocky Horror Show and Magic goes wrong.
You have likely heard of the famous Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are lured into investigating the mythical legend of The Hound of the Baskervilles. There’s rumour of a beast stalking the moorland and praying on the family. The last remaining heir returns and with the help of the two detectives, they find the root cause of this ancestral conundrum.
I imagine it was a true riddle to make sense of this plot in such short time and with so few actors but it is done seamlessly.
A stripped back set allowed your imagination to run free. From a foggy moor to 221b Baker Street, the use of simple props and an eerie illuminated house transformed the locations. With the speed they race through the show, there would be no time for any substantial set changes.
And in the same vain as Conan Doyle himself, the actors used their inventiveness and imagination to play each character. A change in accent, physicality and a simple clothing item helped distinguish between each role. I enjoyed that every character, no matter how small or insignificant, was honoured.
All three actors have expert comic timing. Quite extraordinary.
Jake Ferretti had the biggest boots to comfortably fill as Sherlock Holmes but it was his portrayal of the sexy, Spanish Miss Stapleton that became a gigglefest.
Niall Ransome got his chops into Dr. Watson and created an incompetent idiot out of an iconic role. His stupidity and loyalty to Holmes was hilarious.
Serena Manteghi nailed posh toff, Sir Henry, just as much as the typical cockney cabbie. Her physical comedy was really knock out!
The Hound of the Baskervilles is astHOUNDing. I solved a mystery and laughed hard along the way, what more do you want?
Playing at The Lowry in Salford until Saturday 5 February 2022.