Playing from Friday 2 August to Saturday 31 August, 2024
Reviewed by Tony Flood
Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes story, The Hound of the Baskervilles, has been turned into a frantic frolic in this stage adaption by Steven Canny and John Nicholson.
A talented cast of three, Tom Richardson, Andrew Pollard and Ben Roddy spend two hours cavorting around the 140-year-old Devonshire Park stage in a series of madcap antics.
For me, this farcical makeover of a gruesome tale of death on the moors is not ‘laugh out loud’ funny, but there are a host of humorous moments, both physical and verbal, that make us chuckle.
Director Chris Jordan and the Eastbourne Theatre Production team put to good use their vast experience with the annual Devonshire Park pantos and productions such as The Invisible Man, The 39 Steps and Around the World in 80 Days.
Chris ensures that the fast-paced fun spreads to the audience who are spoken to directly by the actors at the start of each act.
The story is well known. When Sir Charles Baskerville is mauled to death on his Dartmoor estate in the 1880s, with a look of terror etched on his face, and the paw prints of a huge hound beside his body, Sherlock Holmes is summoned from Baker Street, with his assistant Dr Watson to investigate.
Andrew Pollard, who originated the role of Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days for New Vic Theatre in 2013, makes an excellent Eastbourne debut. In addition to being an authoritative Holmes, Andrew throws himself into several other characters which requires multiple costume changes.
Tom Richardson, a convincing Sir Henry Baskerville, and Ben Roddy, ideal as nice but dim Dr Watson, also take on other guises with great gusto. All three actors show impeccable timing and superb chemistry.
The production benefits hugely from the set and costume design of Julie Godrey, the lighting design of Ryan Tate and the sound design of Charlie Tipler, who make us fully aware that a frightful beast is at large. And production manager James Luff makes a vital contribution.
PICTURES by Peter Gurr
