Review: BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY at Popejoy Hall

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery is a unique take on one of the most well-known Sherlock Holmes stories. With a play written by Ken Ludwig and a cast of five actors playing all of the roles, The Walnut Street Theatre has staged a humorous version of The Hound of the Baskervilles that left the audience at Popejoy Hall laughing steadily throughout the production. The audience interaction - including running through the audience at times and talking with them - kept everyone interested in the action on the stage.

As Doctor John Watson, Bill Van Horn was an anchor to the production as he narrated the events and ensured the audience understood what was going on. Ian Merrill Peakes, as Sherlock Holmes, provided a dry wit underlying each one of Homes' observations about the case as well as remarking on the antics of the play itself, effectively breaking the fourth wall on a variety of occasions. Jared McLenigan, Dan Hodge, and Sarah Glicko provide the bulk of the remaining characters of the production, shifting effortlessly from one character to the next with a subtle costume change or different accent. The trio helped maintain the humor of Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery through instances of mistaken identity and slapstick humor, all of which kept the audience entertained throughout the show - to the point where they were discussing how funny it was during intermission.

While the cast did a wonderful job with the material, the behind the scenes crew was spectacular as well, including Kayla Speedy with costume design, J. Dominic Chacon with lighting design, and John Kolbinski with sound design. It's a testament to the staging, lighting, and sound design that a simple set with just a few props managed to be transformed into a shop in London, Holmes' residence at 221 B Baker Street, and a shack on the moor with ease.

The genius behind Ludwig's Bakersville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery is that it manages to take a Sherlock Holmes tale that most already know well and create something unique. With a talented cast and crew, Bakersville is a memorable evening of theatre that no one in the audience at Popejoy Hall seemed likely to soon forget. More information about the tour can be found at: https://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/ontour.php.

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