The Hound Of The Baskervilles Opens Friday!

What: The Hound of the Baskervilles

Where: Angelo Civic Theatre 1936 Sherwood Way San Angelo

When: February 14 – 23 @7:30 p.m. Sundays 2:00 p.m.

Tickets: $22 General, $20 Senior and Military Buy Online Here

There is a cold wind blowing off the moor, just in time for the opening of The Hound of the Baskervilles at Angelo Civic Theatre this Friday. I took a sneak peek at dress rehearsal Wednesday night. If you take the time to see this show, you will not be disappointed.

The Hound of the Baskervilles Plot

Even though the story is well known, Director Ani Galindo does a great job of keeping you guessing all they way to the end. Sherlock Holmes and mystery fans will love it. The play opens at Baskerville Manor on the Scottish moors. Henry Baskerville has recently come into the ownership of the estate after the death of uncle Charles Baskerville, under strange circumstances. The mystery surrounds the curse of the Baskervilles, a ghostly hound with red eyes that has haunted the family for 150 years. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are summoned to protect Sir Henry and get to the bottom of the threats on his life. While budding romance unfolds, the danger to Sir Henry’s life grows closer and closer.

Holmes and Watson / Batman and Robin

Brent Jenkins, long time actor on the ACT stage, plays the man of mystery himself. This was a bucket list role for him. “To play Sherlock Holmes is one of those roles I have always wanted to do.” He said. Jenkins took inspiration from many of the great actors who have played the role. Of all of those, the one that had the biggest influence on him was Jeremy Brett, an English actor who portrayed Holmes on television from 1984-1994.

Tyler Tennell, another perennial favorite of local theatre is Dr. Watson. But this Dr. Watson is no mere sidekick or foil. Jenkins seemed to agree. “They are one. You can’t have one without the other.” Tennell said. “They are sort of like the dynamic duo.” That idea pervades the production so much so that Tech Director Lance Turner has hidden many Batman motifs around the set. Your challenge in this production is to see how many you can find. Turner gave me a tour of them if I promised not to tell. The audience has its work cut out for them to find them all, but it promises great fun.

Aside from Batman, Turner has once again built a marvelous set fitting of Baskerville Manor. The wood panel and fire place add great detail and look like they were taken from an old Basil Rathbone movie. The lighting is intricate and enhances the production, driving the mood of each scene. The special effects are well done and the audio elements heighten the mystery and suspense of the show.

Performances Worth Mentioning

All of the performers are talented, but several actors deserve specific mention. Emily Hill sets the tone from the very beginning of the show and carries it all the way through to the end. I have seen her in other roles of a more comedic nature, but she is a solid presence on stage bringing out the steady strength of her character. Kaden Wright, familiar to ACT audiences for his musical roles, handles this dramatic role with ease and is entirely convincing as Sir Henry. Hera Olson is perfectly cast and draws your attention in every scene. Tyler Tennell’s facial hair also deserves an honorable mention for the authenticity it brings. The writing is superb with many memorable quotes to remember. My favorite was when Laura Lyon says, “It is not the other world that will harm us Sir Henry, it is the living.” Shannon Dennis steals the scene by delivering that line with a soul that seems to know what she is talking about.

Mystery as Live Theatre

I spoke with Director Ani Galindo to talk about the show. He offered great insights into the challenges this play presents. “Mysteries are more difficult for the director, and the actors.” Galindo said. “The actors can’t play their part with equal earnestness as they do in other genres.” He explained that directing a mystery has the added challenge of keeping the audience guessing. “We have to figure out how to deceive the audience, without lying to them. They have to believe that any one of the characters, besides Holmes and Watson, could be the murderer.” Galindo explained. “You also have to find the right balance of humor and terror.”

This production does all those things. The humor is subtle, and very dry, as you would expect from the British. Even if you know how the story ends, you will still be surprised at how it unfolds and should not miss this chance to see Holmes brought to life.

The show is not long, a little over an hour and a half with a fifteen minute intermission, audiences will be home before 10:00 p.m.