(OUTscene NW) RE-view: CLASSIC Hound of the Baskervilles hits the Stage at Seattle Rep!

by MK Scott

Well, what took so long? It has been over 100 years since Arthur Conan Doyle's Classics Holmes tale, The Hound of the Baskervilles was first published, and it finally hits the stage in a World Premiere at the Seattle Rep.

This classic has adapted by Seattle Actors/Playwrights, David Pichette and R. Hamilton Wright.They had previously successfully adapted Double Indemnity in 2011 for ACT.

The story goes like this: Sir Charles Baskerville (Charles Leggett) is found dead on the grounds of his country house, Baskerville Hall. The cause is ascribed to a heart attack. Fearing for the safety of Sir Charles's nephew and the only known heir, Sir Henry Baskerville (Connor Toms), coming from Toronto, Canada to claim his inheritance, Dr James Mortimer (Basil Harris) travels to London and asks Sherlock Holmes (Darragh Kennan) for help.

Sir Charles Baskerville had become fearful of the legendary curse and its hellhound. Mortimer decided that Sir Charles had been waiting for someone when he died. His face was contorted in a ghastly expression, while his footprints suggested that he was running away from something. The elderly man's heart wasn't strong, and he had planned to go to London the very next day. Mortimer says he had seen the footprints of a "gigantic hound" near Sir Charles's body, though nothing was revealed at the inquest.

It is decided that, with Holmes being tied up in London with other cases, Watson (Andrew McGinn) will accompany Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall and report back by telegram in detail.

Sir Henry soon meets Miss Stapleton (played by Tom's real-life wife, Hana Lass)  and becomes romantically interested in her, despite her brother’s intrusions.

Meanwhile, during the day, Sir Henry continues to pursue Beryl Stapleton until her brother (Quinn Franzen) runs up on them and yells angrily. He later explains to the disappointed baronet that it was not personal, he was just afraid of losing his only companion so quickly. To show there are no hard feelings, he invites Sir Henry to dine with him and his sister on Friday.

The unknown man proves to be Holmes. He has kept his location a secret so that Watson would not be tempted to come out and so he would be able to appear on the scene of action at the critical moment. Watson’s reports have been of much help to him, and he then tells his friend some of the information he has uncovered – Stapleton is actually married to the woman posing as Miss Stapleton, and was also promising marriage to Laura Lyons to get her cooperation. As they bring their conversation to an end, they hear a ghastly scream.


Holmes and Watson return to Baskerville Hall where, over dinner, the detective stares at Hugo Baskerville's portrait. Calling Watson over after dinner he covers the hair to show the face, revealing its striking likeness to Stapleton.Has the the True Heir been found?

The Killer is revealed and is killed by the Hound. The shocker was his co-conspirator, who wasn't revealed in the book, but is in the play, which made it more contemporary.  

The set by L.B. Morse was elegant and and was improved with digital images of a back screen.

The direction by Allison Narver was top notch and successfully a classic action tell and confined it to the stage without skipping a beat.

Kennan as Holmes was the classic clown with a contemporary look, I could now picture Neil Tennent, playing the role, thanks to Kennan's resemblance to the Pet Shop Boy front man!

In between the darkness, the production balances it all out with Humor played off-kilter and loud by Kennan's Holmes.

The Hound of the Baskervilles’ By Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by David Pichette and R. Hamilton Wright. Through Dec. 15 at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Click Here for More.