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The Hound of the Baskervilles
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Adapted by Terry McCabe
Directed by Kevin Theis
At City Lit Theater
1029 W. Bryn Mawr
Chicago, Il
Call 773-293-3682, tickets $25
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Through October 14, 2007
Riveting stage adaptation of Doyle’s classic fueled by terrific acting.
In 2006, City Lit Theater paired Don Bender as Sherlock Holes with Will Schutz as Dr. Watson in Holmes and Watson. The result was an intriguing play as the two talented actors presented the two detectives as lively sleuths. The magic is still there as Bender and Schutz deftly deliver deliciously captivating performances as the master mystery solvers. The chemistry and presence of these two talents anchor the complicated tale where atmosphere fuels the story.
With Dr. Watson as narrator, The Hound of the Baskervilles, considered as the greatest of all the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, deftly delivers several long speeches that sets the tone and moves the story along. Schultz is at the top of his craft as Watson. We learn about the ancient curse of the Baskervilles in a chilling speech by Christopher M. Walsh as Dr. James Mortimer. We can almost see the special hound said to haunt the clan.
When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead in strange circumstances, Holmes and Watson as summoned to aid the new heir, Sir Henry Baskerville (Chris Cantelmi) by Dr. Mortimer. Watson is to guard Sir Henry at the estate until the mystery is solved and the eerie legacy is safeguarded.
With an amazingly clear presentation of a complex plot and peopled with wacky country folk led by Jack Stapleton (the intoxicating George W. Seegebrecht), The Hound of the Baskervilles is a most enjoyable stage mystery. We are quickly enticed into the detailed world of Holmes and Watson with their opening scene in which they examine a cane left by a visitor neither met. As smart as Watson’s observations are---Holmes reaches an astonishingly clever deduction simply from a cursory look at the cane. We are hooked and remain so as this fast-paced show unfolds smoothly without missing anyone of Doyle’s intricate twists.
Besides the wonderful ensemble work from Phillip Winston, Elise Kauzlaric, Jerry Bloom and Bill Brennan, the atmosphere of the gloomy bog and moor of the Devonshire countryside was enhanced by Sean Mallary’s lighting design and Robert Steel’s sound design and original music. The barks and haunting sounds added depth to the mysterious tone necessary for the play to work.
City Lit Theater has delivered a tight, well-acted Holmes mystery lead by terrific directing from Kevin Theis and excellent work from Don Bender (Holmes) and Will Schutz (Dr. Watson). One can hope this team will be featured in more Sherlock Holmes adaptations. Terry McCabe is a master adapter as he whittles Doyle’s Homes stories into two hours of stage magic.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2007
Jeff Recommended
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