The
Hound Of The Baskervilles
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Adapted
by Peepolykus and Steven Canny
Javier Marzan, John Nicholson, Jason Thorpe
Director: Orla O’Loughlin
Liverpool
Everyman Theatre
Saturday 24th February, 2007
 |
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
REVIEWED
Energy. Creativity. Skill. Fun. Four words that sum up this production
of The Hound Of The Baskervilles as done by
the three members of Peepolykus who, in a little over two hours, play
all of the parts. Not only do they deliver superb and hilarious performances,
but they also stick to the basic plot – that of a rich American
inheriting a family fortune and a deadly curse in deepest Devon –
whilst twisting and turning it through sweating fingers without ever letting
it drop.
Javier Marzan – a Spaniard – plays Sherlock Holmes and, though not exactly Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett, is still identifiable as the great man and Barrymore and Cecile and Stapleton and sometimes all three at once.
John
Nicholson is a superb Doctor Watson, picking up the bumbling nature
of Nigel Bruce and simply exaggerating it ten fold. Jason Thorpe as
Sir Henry Baskerville, however, steals the show. It is his comic timing
and boundless energy that catapults the story along like a train. Never
does he stand still and never does he falter in delivering lines. Like
all good clowns, all three make their job look easy. Thorpe, however,
makes it look easier.
Overall, this is a masterly production
filled with madness, mayhem and mirth that includes enough dry ice to
satisfy 70’s Glam Rock band and enough hilarity to keep even the
most ardent Peter Kay fan entertained. The Hound Of The
Baskervilles, Peepolykus style, is slapstick theatre that
makes the audience hungry for more. Imagine Python on speed and you
have a rough idea of what to expect. Two hours of absolute joy in the
theatre.
9/10
West Yorkshire Playhouse 22nd Jan - 17th Feb 0113 213 7700 Playhouse
Liverpool Everyman 20th – 24th February 0151 709 4776 Everyman
Winchester Theatre Royal 27th February – 3rd March 01962 840440 Winchester Royal
Watford Palace 6th – 10th March 01923 225671 Watford Palace
Oxford Playhouse 13th –
17th March 01865 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com
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