a&e | THEATER PREVIEW ben crop
HOWLING GOOD FUN: (from left) Jon Koons, Joshua Daniel Hershfield, and Brain Harwell star in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic mystery
Murder on the Moors I
n celebration of their 70th theatrical sea- Doyle’s characters, Gros is excited about the son, and in anticipation of Halloween, the prospect of bringing his own version of SherSBCC Theatre Group at SBCC presents a lock Holmes and Dr. Watson to the stage. “I fresh adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s enjoy the mystery, the historic and modern classic tale of the shadowy circumstances contexts, the ‘buddy’ aspect of these stories, surrounding Sir Charles Baskerville’s mur- the cleverness of the dialogue,” said Gros of der. One of the many adventures of Sherlock the Holmes saga. “Whether period or modHolmes and his compatriot in sleuthing, Dr. ern, I think these stories are fun to explore. Watson, this theatrical version of The Hound And they take us on a specific journey with of the Baskervilles sees the intrepid detec- each telling.” tive duo unravel the mystery on the moors, While the style of the SBCC production in which Baskerville and his nephew are is firmly comedic, Gros assured that his haunted by a fearsome hellhound. Directed interpretation of the haunted Devonshire by SBCC’s R. Michael Gros, The Hound of moors upholds the chemistry of cryptic the Baskervilles is a humorous Halloween clues and dramatic tension that makes Sherwhodunit featuring SBCC students along lock Holmes’s capers so exhilarating. Gros with a cast of area actors described the show as “an returning to the Theoverall homage to Sir Arthur atre Group stage at the Conan Doyle’s varied writGarvin Theatre. ings that blend science and the imagination.” Sherlock Holmes is a character that has been Shows that are made borrowed and reimagseasonally commemorative ined in various styles by their pairing with holiand situations since the day festivities garner added late 19th century when enthusiasm based, in part, by Maggie Yates he first appeared in on novelty. SBCC is taking Doyle’s serials. A private advantage of that excitement Basker detective in London whose deductive capa- by turning the closing performance of Baskerbilities are beyond compare, Holmes is the villes into a steampunk-themed Halloween protagonist in an impressive catalog of crime- event. The final show falls on Saturday, Octosolving mysteries. With an uncanny ability ber 31, and the performers and associated to restructure crimes based on intuition, staff are encouraging the audience to dress inference, and the interpretation of minute in their finest urban Victorian London attire, details at a crime scene, the cunning detective a nod to the environment in which Holmes and his exploits have maintained popularity and Watson exist. throughout the last century. Both Sherlock Featuring Brian Harwell, Jon Koons, Elaine Holmes and Dr. Watson have become charac- Arnett, Blake Benlan, George Coe, Daniel ters synonymous with investigatory thrillers. Colohan, Aurora Deleon, Robert Demetriou, In this particular chapter of the Sherlock Colton Fair, Marion Freitag, Joshua Daniel Holmes series, the alleged murderer of the Hershfield, Sean Jackson, Brayden Myrick, cursed Sir Baskerville, who’s found dead Sara Persson, Jenna Scanlon, and Allan with an expression of terror on his face, is a Stewart-Oaten, The Hound of the Baskervilles phantom hound. The hell beast’s massive foot- is a performance in which familiar characprints are found near the deceased, a clue that ters present a well-loved story in a clever, suggests foul play. Baskerville’s nephew (and entertaining style. Baskervilles will be a lively heir to the Baskerville estate) also complains performance that unveils many of the new technical capabilities of the recently remodof being pursued by a huge, wraith-like dog. SBCC’s production of The Hound of the eled Garvin Theatre. This expanded potential Baskervilles was adapted by David Pichette for spectacle offers designers a chance to and R. Hamilton Wright for Seattle Reper- utilize a wide range of sensational theatrical tory Theatre in 2013. A fan of the genre and effects.
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The Theatre Group at SBCC presents The Hound of the Baskervilles October 16-31 at Garvin Theatre. For tickets and info, call 965-5935 or visit theatregroupsbcc.com. independent.com
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