Review: SBCC's HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES Puts the 'Mist' in Mystery

The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of many installments in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's popular series of mystery stories. In this stage adaptation by David Pichette and R. Hamilton Wright, Doyle's famous investigative duo, the audacious detective Sherlock Holmes (Brian Harwell) and his partner in crime solving, Dr. Watson (Jon Koons), take on the classic case of the Baskerville curse, a mystery on the marshy moors of England.

The wealthy Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead in his home, seemingly of natural causes, but his neighbors cry murder. His death is blamed on a long-existing family curse in which a supernatural hellhound has hunted and murdered several generations of Baskervilles. Charles's nephew (and heir of the Baskerville fortune), Canadian cowboy Hank Baskerville (Joshua Daniel Hershfield), is unconcerned by the nefarious ghost-hound, and moves into Baskerville Hall. Holmes, however, curious about this paranormal killer, takes an interest in the case. He sends Watson to observe the goings on at Baskerville Hall and meet the local characters--each of whom is a suspect.

The Santa Barbara City College Theatre Group's production of The Hound of the Baskervilles features Brian Harwell as a brusque and socially callous Holmes, an interesting portrayal of an impatient genius who waffles between glee at explaining his discoveries to the layperson and exasperation at the fact that the rest of the class can't keep up with his adept caper solving. Hershfield, too, provides a robust foil to the overall staunch "Britishness" of most other characters. Despite a cast of consistently funny actors with undeniable talent for camp, the energy of this production was intermittently staid, which downplayed the urgency of the mystery. Most disappointing was the lackluster nature of the Holmsian "reveals" so customary of the genre. Holmes is always a step ahead of the rest of the characters in his assessment of the situation, so explanations of his impeccable logic are prime moments to emphasize the excitement of discovery. Many of these moments, including a reveal with a painting that points to the murderer, as well as a reveal of one of Holmes's disguises, were underplayed enough to seem almost overlooked.

The Garvin has the capacity to provide a wide range of technical theatre magic, and a moody murder mystery is a perfect vehicle to present these effects. However, while the urge to show off technical capacity is understandable, these effects should be used within reason, to complement the production rather than distract from it. While fog and storming lends to the mysterious mood of the windswept moors, the Baskervilles stage was so covered in soupy mist that the action was, periodically, completely obscured. True, this cloudy obfuscation might work to emphasize a tone of secrecy, but these moments were ill timed, and they overshadowed other important stage action, such as Beryl Stapleton (Jenna Scanlon) sinking through the marshy quicksand to her death.

SBCC has a record of lavish and impeccable set design, and Baskervilles (set design by Pat Frank) is no exception. Upstage screens with monochrome images of turn-of-the-century London and rural train stations give the effect of seeing the characters right from the black-and-white pages of an illustrated Victorian penny novel. The mood of this production was set by the physical aesthetic of the stage rather than specific acting or directorial choices, so some characters faded into the background against the impressive scenery and overpowering technical effects. An influx of energy in terms of character motivation might bring focus back to the mystery--but for now, the The Hound of the Baskervilles, while certainly entertaining, is mired in fog.

The Hound of the Baskervilles
A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Adapted by David Pichette
and R. Hamilton Wright

Directed by R. Michael Gros

October 16-31, 2015
Previews October 14 & 15
Garvin Theatre

SBCC Theatre Group

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