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