Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery – Breakdown
CAST SIZE - 1f, 4m
Estimated Duration – 120 Min
Mystery/ Thriller, Period
SUMMARY
Get your deerstalker cap on – the plays afoot! Comedic genius Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, Moon Over Buffalo) transforms Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic The Hound of the Baskervilles into a murderously funny adventure. Sherlock Holmes is on the case. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being dispatched one by one. To find their ingenious killer, Holmes and Watson must brave the desolate moors before a family curse dooms its newest heir. Watch as our intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, disguises, and deceit as five actors deftly portray more than forty characters. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Can our heroes discover the truth in time? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be.
ROLES
SHERLOCK HOLMES: is “over the top”, as exhibited in most interpretations of Holmes whether 1939 or 2020. He is deadly serious about what he does. Absolutely loves what he does. Has his bad habits, as is well known, but really only one indication during the play. Yet, Holmes always seems like he is constantly wired on caffeine. (Holmes has to have “a look” – calm, stoic, in control but ready for action if needed, a leading person)
JOHN WATSON (Male): is steadfast loyal companion. Hardly ever “over the top” but when is it is always fun to watch. Behavior wonderfully contrasts with Holmes. Watson is dedicated, but naive. (Watson, a contrast to Holmes, character in nature, not the leading person, proper British with a bit of gruff “harrumphs” thrown in – See 1939 Nigel Bruce) Watson is also the Narrator of story to the audience.
ACTOR 1 (Male): The main role is Doctor Mortimer, but is also 13 other characters, ranging from the mystery Man with the Black Beard, the hard of hearing wife Lucy, the Castilian Desk Clerk, the butterfly chasing Mr. Stapleton, the hunchback Barrymore, to the young London Street urchin Milker. (a bit quirky, accents Castilian, British, Cockney, etc, villain at times, male and female characters).
Actor Two (Male): The main role is the Texan inheritor of Baskerville, Sir Henry Baskerville (big old Texas accent and attitude, guns ready). But also 8 others such as the late Sir Charles Baskerville, Daisy the chambermaid, the evil Sir Hugo Baskerville, and Inspector Lestrade. (Henry is the strong Texan accented leading man type but a little slow, also has to be his recent Uncle as well as his several hundred-year-old villain relative, male and female characters)
Actor Three (Female): The main role is as Mrs. Hudson. But is 13 other characters such as the helpless Maiden, the old Shepardess, the heavily accented German Maid, the sweet, lovely Miss Stapleton, Cartwright the other London Street urchin and others. (She is the matronly Mrs. Hudson, as well as the very lovely, young Miss Stapleton who Sir Henry falls immediately in love with. Accents heavy German, Cockney and others).
*Casting Notes: 2 actors play Holmes and Watson, while the rest of the cast plays the remaining 40 characters.
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