Summary
Summary
Did a supernatural hound cause the death of Sir Charles Baskerville? Or is the famous Baskerville curse simply a cover for more sinister goings on? The redoubtable Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson face danger in an old mansion and on the moors in this rollicking stage adaptation of Doyle's classic adventure.An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring: Geoffrey Arend, Wilson Bethel, Seamus Dever, Sarah Drew, Henri Lubatti, James Marsters, Christopher Neame, Moira Quirk, and Darren Richardson.Includes a converation with actors Seamus Deaver (Holmes), Geoffrey Arend (Watson), and author Leslie S. Klinger, the New York Times best-selling editor of the Edgar®-winning "New Annotated Sherlock Holmes" and the critically-acclaimed "New Annotated Dracula." Directed by Alexis Jacknow. Recorded by L.A. Theatre Works before a live audience.
Reviews (6)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Of all Doyle's stories about the redoubtable Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend and chronicler Dr. John Watson, arguably the best known is their investigation into what appears to be a homicidal "gigantic hound" pursuing the Baskerville clan. There have been numerous film, radio, and television adaptations, but rarely has one been as flat-out entertaining as this radio-like full-cast performance, directed by Alexis Jacknow and recorded before a live audience. Much of this is due to the clever script by Pichette and Wright, which includes most of Doyle's original plot but manages to be as humorous as it is thrilling and, though set in Victorian times, ends with a refreshingly contemporary noirish twist. Assisted by splendid sound effects, the cast performs with energy, enthusiasm, and invention. For example, Moira Quirk portrays the 221B Baker Street housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, with an amusingly flippant attitude. Seamus Dever is a sharp-witted and sharp-tongued Holmes, but, as in the novel, the character spends quite a bit of time observing events from afar (and is therefore often away from the mike). In his absence, Watson and potential victim Sir Henry Baskerville carry the plot, with Geoffrey Arend presenting the good doctor as a capable and humane straight man considerably out-charmed by actor James Marsters's Sir Henry. The production also features comments by Leslie S. Klinger, editor of the Edgar Allan Poe Award-winning New Annotated Sherlock Holmes. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Doyle's classic story is accompanied by undistinguished full-page ink and watercolor illustrations in blue and red tones. Occasional spot-art breaks up the text, making it more accessible to a younger audience. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
The Illustrated Classics graphic-novel series takes on the master of deduction with this invigorating slant on one of Conan Doyle's best-loved works. The story unfolds faithfully: Dr. Mortimer arrives at 221B Baker Street to rope Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson into the strange case of Charles Baskerville, who recently (and quite mysteriously!) became the latest in his lineage to die, possibly at the hands of the legendary beast who haunts the grounds. Holmes, as depicted by Culbard, is a long-faced, dagger-nosed, boulder-chinned aristocrat a caricature, but one still agile enough to exude pleasure when uttering that the case presents some features of interest. Each character's features are similarly comic yet present fun counterparts to the verbose untanglings. The large word balloons are often the only visual breaks from the warm/cold colors that balance each page except, of course, when the hound bounds onto the stage in glowing greens. The fascinating back matter includes early designs for Holmes and Watson, an overhead schema of their office, and a preview of the upcoming A Study in Scarlet.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2009 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-In what is arguably both the best Sherlock Holmes story in the canon and one of the classic all-time mystery novels, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle parlays his interest in the occult with keen scientific detection in a story that prominently showcases Dr. Watson. Upon hearing Dr. James Mortimer's saga of the haunted Baskerville family and the recent death of family head Sir Charles Baskerville, apparently from the hound of the legend, Holmes and Watson begin their investigation. When the estate's heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, arrives in London from Canada strange things immediately occur and Holmes dispatches Watson to accompany Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall. Situated in Dartmoor in Devonshire, the estate borders a tremendous moor that includes Grimpen Mire, the deadly quicksand-like bog, and provides the Gothic atmosphere that so beautifully saturates the storyÄthe oppressive manor and nightly sounds of a wailing woman, Neolithic ruins and monoliths throughout the moor, a mysterious butler and his agitated wife, an escaped killer at-large on the moor, and the spectral and murderous hound. This expurgated version is wonderfully conceived and executed in every aspect, but particularly in the dexterous delivery of veteran British actor, Tony Britton. His diverse and distinctive portrayal of over a dozen characters is singularly commanding. This literary masterwork that has found its simpatico audio incarnation should be an obligatory purchase for all audio collections.-Barry X. Miller, Austin Public Library, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Guardian Review
Sherlock Holmes had in his hands a stick left behind by a doctor the night before. "Well, Watson, what do you make of it?" he asked. I sighed. "Do we always have to start with me humiliating myself by jumping to all the wrong conclusions?" "Humour me, Watson." "Very well, Holmes. It belongs to an elderly man with a huge dog." "My dear Watson, your stupidity never lets you down," Holmes cackled, drawing deeply on a pipe of heaviest shag. "Our man is in his 30s with a small spaniel." "Good God, man. How could you possibly deduce that?" "Because he's sitting in the corner." "There's no time to waste," said our visitor, introducing himself as Dr Mortimer. "I have urgent need of your services. You may have heard of the curse of the Hound of the Baskervilles. For centuries it has been held as but a myth, but recently Sir Charles was found dead on Dartmoor surrounded by the paw prints of a giant beast. Today, his only heir, Sir Henry, arrives from Canada and I fear for his life." "A most interesting problem," Holmes replied grimly, "and I fear it will be even trickier than the curious case of Lady Ascot's missing Fortnum & Mason's hamper. Bring Sir Henry to these rooms tomorrow. Watson, get me some morphine. It's the only way I can bear to listen to my violin playing." An urgent knocking interrupted our breakfast. "Sir Henry, I presume," Holmes said drily. "The very same," he responded. "It really is most intolerable, sir. I've been in the country less than 24 hours and I've been sent an anonymous letter warning me to stay away from Baskerville Hall if I value my life." "Show me the note," Holmes demanded. "I see it has been fashioned from today's Times leader." "How could you possibly know that?" I ejaculated. "Elementary, Watson. It's the bit of the paper no one ever reads. This problem may prove even more curious than the case of Elton of John's tiara. It seems you are being followed, Sir Henry, but I fear the answers are to be found in Devon. I must stay in town to complete my investigations into the disappearance of the Prince of Wales's toothbrush, but Watson will accompany you to Dartmoor." Sir Henry's mood darkened as the train sped westwards; by the time we reached Coombe Tracey and discovered a prisoner had escaped on the moor, it was thunderous. "Why did Holmes have to send me down with you?" he barked. "I've read enough of his exploits to know you're a complete moron who will get everything wrong, and besides, the bits where Holmes doesn't feature are usually fairly dull." An eerie howling atmospherically emanated from the moor. "I don't much like the look of Barrymore the butler," I whispered to Sir Henry. "I'd steer clear of the swimming pool." I later observed Barrymore signalling to someone out on the moor. "Caught you, you bounder," I yelled. "Oh sir, I meant no harm," Barrymore whimpered. "The escaped prisoner is the wife's younger brother. He's a murderer with a heart of gold really, and we're leaving food out for him." "Of course my good man," I re plied. "So you're just a red herring and I've got everything wrong as usual." Taking our afternoon perambulations, Sir Henry and I encountered the local naturalist John Stapleton out on the moor with his sister. "I say, you're a stunner," Sir Henry muttered, bowing to Miss Stapleton. I rather thought he had caught her fancy too, but she whispered a hasty, "Leave", before her brother pulled her away, laughing satanically as a horse was sucked beneath Grimpen Mire. "That's all very queer," I said as we returned home. Queerer still was the silhouette of a thin, angular man I glimpsed against the moon. Later that night, Sir Henry went out on the moor alone. A deep growl followed by a desperate scream rent the air. I hastened to the body fearing the worst. "Thank God," I gasped. "It was only the escaped prisoner dressed in Sir Henry's clothes." "Good evening, Watson," Holmes said, stepping from the shadows. "What the deuce?" I cried. "I've been hiding on the moor all along and I have the case solved. Stapleton is a distant relative of the Baskervilles and the woman posing as his sister is his wife. She tried to warn Sir Henry he is planning to kill off everyone to inherit the Baskerville fortune, but Stapleton silenced her. We must act before he succeeds." Fog swept over the moor as a shiny, fire-breathing beast bore down on Sir Henry. Holmes emptied his revolver. The mastiff fell lifeless and Stapleton was swallowed in Grimpen Mire. "See how he painted the dog and placed phosphorous in his mouth," Holmes said breezily. "This has been the most fiendish of cases I've ever encountered, more fiendish even than the abduction of Mrs Slocombe's pussy." "Just one thing bothers me, Holmes," I replied. "Even if Stapleton had killed Sir Henry, how would he get away with suddenly announcing himself as his heir?" "Shut up, Watson." John Crace's Digested Reads appear in G2 on Tuesdays. Caption: article-digclassic18.1 "A most interesting problem," [Holmes] replied grimly, "and I fear it will be even trickier than the curious case of Lady Ascot's missing Fortnum & Mason's hamper. Bring Sir Henry to these rooms tomorrow. [Watson], get me some morphine. It's the only way I can bear to listen to my violin playing." Sir Henry's mood darkened as the train sped westwards; by the time we reached Coombe Tracey and discovered a prisoner had escaped on the moor, it was thunderous. "Why did Holmes have to send me down with you?" he barked. "I've read enough of his exploits to know you're a complete moron who will get everything wrong, and besides, the bits where Holmes doesn't feature are usually fairly dull." "Oh sir, I meant no harm," [Barrymore] whimpered. "The escaped prisoner is the wife's younger brother. He's a murderer with a heart of gold really, and we're leaving food out for him." - John Crace.
Library Journal Review
Originally published as a magazine serial in 1901, this is one of the best-known Sherlock Holmes stories. Decades ago, Sir Hugo Baskerville was killed on the moor, ostensibly by a huge, slavering hound. Now his descendant Sir Charles has been found dead on the grounds at Baskerville Hall. Will the curse be visited on Sir Henry Baskerville, recently arrived from Canada to claim his inheritance? Watson travels to Dartmoor to investigate. He meets the neighbors, including a brother and sister named Stapleton, and learns that an escaped convict is on the loose. Meanwhile, in London, Holmes conducts inquiries and finds connections between Sir Charles and Mr. Stapleton. This adaptation reimagines the classic tale as an energetic radio drama. The dialog is lively, and the sound effects include storms, howling hounds, creaking doors, and train whistles. The performance is followed by a live audience talkback with Leslie Klinger, editor of the New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, who puts the story into literary and historical context. An excellent companion to the original text. VERDICT Recommended for middle and high school students as well as the general public.-Nann Blaine Hilyard, formerly with Zion-Benton P.L., IL (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.