This Hound is a comic whirlwind

When The Hound of the Baskervilles was first serialised in The Strand Magazine in 1901 it was expected to be a big hit, but nobody could have imagined quite how big. It is now one of the best known stories ever written in English, and the character of Sherlock Holmes is among the most famous of all fictional detectives. He has been reinterpreted countless times in writing, film, TV, and theatre, where his quirky habits and astonishing feats of deduction continue to enthral.

Celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary, the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick has its own high-energy reimagining of the famous, terrifying story. Adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson, who also directs, this “Hound” is a howling moorland caper with a cast of three: Helena Antoniou as Dr. Watson, Katy Daghorn as Sir Henry Baskerville (and at least two yokels), and Dave Hearn as the great detective, and master of disguise himself.

The play begins conventionally enough, with the dramatic death of Sir Charles Baskerville on a moorland at night, complete with a howling dog and a clever gag with a gate, but we’re soon taken away on a comic whirlwind of set and costume changes, fast-paced dialogue and hilarious physical comedy.

“but we’re soon taken away on a comic whirlwind”

It’s a hectic journey through the key components of any Holmes story: the consulting room, the amazement of the client whose walking cane says so much, and a mystery which of course must have a rational explanation. But everything is turned up for comic
effect. Watson’s bafflement and Holmes’s disguises are wildly over the top, and the contrast between city and country offers a seemingly endless supply of gags.

Of course this being a three-hander means that everyone plays multiple parts, so there’s no hiding behind any semblance of realism. There are many moments when the audience is trusted to fill in the gaps in what appears on the stage. Minimal props, costumes, or even pieces of costumes work by suggestion, and often suggestively, while the lighting and sound are an integral part of the storytelling.

“The acting performances are terrific, but this is a production where it is very obvious that the entire crew is working as one.”

This is an immersive experience at the theatre, with a lot of laughter. We left highly entertained, exhilarated and, like poor Watson, somewhat baffled by the chaos we had just witnessed.

Runs until 14 September 2024, tickets and details: https://www.theatrebythelake.com/whats-on/

Chris and Siobhan Routledge on behalf of Eileen Jones.