Arts & Entertainment
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Barrymore (Ron Campbell, center) greets Baskerville (Darren Bridgett, right) and Watson (Michael Gene Sullivan, left) in TheatreWorks’ comedy sendup of the Sherlock Holmes story, “The Hound of the Baskervilles.”
Sherlock goes sidesplitting ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ howls with hilarity Bike-along Outreach Meeting Palo Alto Bicycle Boulevard Program
by Jeanie K. Smith
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here’s something about watching grown men go totally silly on stage that is incredibly funny and exhilarating, especially when those men are Ron Campbell, Darren Bridgett and Michael Gene Sullivan, three masters of comedy. It helps when the script is a clever adaptation of the famous story by Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” The term “adaptation” is used loosely here to describe a rather free-wheeling romp through the story, in a notat-all-veiled excuse for rampant theatrical fun. Adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson, two well-known British theater mavens, the story does indeed follow the original, but with much merriment and hilarious hijinks. We begin with the world-famous detective, Sherlock Holmes (Campbell), taking on the mysterious case of the Baskervilles — a family, which is said to be cursed. Multiple heirs to the family fortune have been killed on the grounds of the Baskerville estate in shocking and puzzling circumstances. Legend has it that a gigantic, spectral hound is behind it all, but Sherlock is convinced there is human — rather than supernatural — evil at work. His trusted companion Dr. Watson (Sullivan) is sent ahead to Dartmoor to begin the investigation, along with Sir Henry Baskerville (Bridgett). Sir Henry is the last of his clan, newly arrived from Canada, and determined to claim his ancestral home. Well, that’s the plot, anyway, but can’t possibly describe the zany way the exposition develops, or how many characters Bridgett plays before and after Sir Henry, or how often the actors speak directly to the audience with some
/ / ,Ê, 6 7 amusing side note, or how fast the puns and double entendres pile up. The plot proceeds merely as a vehicle for wacky, riotous fun, and we are happily swept along in a sea of silliness. Campbell’s expertise as a clown is put to excellent use here, admirably restrained when necessary, but let loose to wild comic effect elsewhere. He becomes so many different characters, so quickly; it’s impressive, as well as humorous. His Cecile alone is wonderfully weird. Bridgett deftly disappears into a multitude of roles, as well, and gets a chance to gleefully interact with the audience. Sullivan remains Watson throughout, but he’s delightfully adept at physical comedy and a wide range of expression, with terrific comic skills. He also steps out of character to address the audience and attempt some clarifying narration. Andrea Bechert’s set is a marvelous trip back to 1900, with an interactive proscenium arch and faux footlights, as well as clever use of flying and moving set pieces to quickly change locations. Two stagehands (Jed Parsario and one unnamed) become additional characters in the show, devilishly wielding smoke machines and running interference. Lighting by Steven B. Mannshardt creates amusing effects and helps establish locale. The sound design by Cliff Caruthers contributes another layer of fun to the production, several times the source of laughter. B. Modern’s costume design almost steals the show, as the myriad outfits add tremendously to character definition and overall wackiness. The astonishingly quick changes become a noteworthy part of the action.
Director Robert Kelley obviously had great fun working with this inspired cast, talented production team and smart, madcap script. This just might be the funniest two hours you will spend in a theater this season. N What: “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson; presented by TheatreWorks
The City of Palo Alto is hosting four bike-along rides to help introduce and solicit information on proposed Bicycle Boulevard projects. Each of the Saturday rides will include a bicycle tour of proposed project sites with stops at key locations to allow residents an opportunity to provide input on improvements to be presented at future community meetings. Ê
UÊSaturday, April 26 @ 10AM, PALY Lot at Churchill Av & Castilleja Av Tour of the proposed Park Boulevard, Stanford Avenue, and Wilkie Way Bicycle Boulevard Projects. This tour also includes a tour of the Bryant Street Bicycle Boulevard Update project between Palo Alto Avenue and East Meadow Drive.
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UÊÊSaturday, May 3 @ 10AM, Addison School – Addison Street Entry Tour of the proposed Homer Avenue/Channing Avenue Enhanced Bikeway Project; and the Greer Road, Ross Road, Moreno Avenue-Amarillo Avenue Bicycle Boulevard projects.
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UÊSaturday, May 10 @ 10AM, Barron Park School, 800 Barron Avenue Tour of the Barron Park Bicycle Routes project and the Maybell Bicycle Boulevard.
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UÊSaturday, May 17 @ 10AM, Piazza’s at Middlefield/ Charleston Tour of the South Palo Alto Bicycle Program projects including the Bryant Street Bicycle Boulevard Extension; Alma Street Enhanced Bikeway; and the Montrose Avenue, Cubberley Center Trail Route, and San Antonio Road Bicycle Routes.
Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View When: Through April 27, with 7:30 p.m. shows Tuesday and Wednesday; 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday; and 2 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday Cost: Tickets range from $19 to $73; special discounts for under30, educators, seniors. Info: Go to www.theatreworks. org or call 650-463-1960
Looking for something to do? Check out the Weekly’s Community Calendar for the Midpeninsula. Instantly find out what events are going on in your city!
Go to www.PaloAltoOnline .com/calendar PaloAltoOnline.com
Bring the entire family out for fun bicycle ride and to help shape the design of the city’s future bicycle boulevard program projects. Design consultants Alta Planning + Design and Fehr & Peers Transportation Consultants and Sandis Engineering will be on hand to guide the tours and answer questions regarding project development. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the City of Palo Alto at (650) 329-2442 or TransportationDivision@ cityofpaloalto.org ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ «À Ê£n]ÊÓä£{ÊU Page 31