TB wrote: “A new film and more modern day adaptations on the television, it seems Holmes and Watson are as, if not more, popular than ever. I have always wanted to direct a Sherlock Holmes mystery for the stage but could not find a suitable script. So, here is my own adaptation of the most popular story.
I do hope you enjoy it and from all of us at the Wick Theatre Company we wish you a very Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you at our next show, Caught in the Net, and for the rest of our exciting 2012 season”
Publicity #1: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: December 3 2011
Text Header: Game’s well and truly afoot for classic Sherlock Holmes tale at Southwick Barn
Text: Content
DARK, mysterious goings-on will have Southwick theatre-goers on the edge of their seats. Wick Theatre Company will present Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in The Hound of the Baskervilles, at the Barn Theatre, from January 11 to 14.Anna Quick, speaking on behalf of the group, said: “Originally serialised in 1901 in The Strand Magazine, Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles follows the infamous Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson as they investigate the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, whose lifeless body is found on the misty and desolate Devon moors. “The locals blame his death on the legend of the fearsome phantom hound that they claim has cursed the Baskerville family for generations.
“When the heir to the Baskerville fortune comes under threat, Holmes’ and Watson’s detective skills are pushed to the limit as they battle to discover the truth behind the legend and to solve one of the most macabre mysteries of their careers.”
Starring Bob Ryder as Sherlock Holmes, Mark Best as Dr Watson, Guy Steddon as Sir Henry Baskerville and featuring Ben Cassan, Anna Quick, Judith Berrill, John Garland, David Creedon, Ray Hopper, Maggi Pearce and many others, the play is being billed as the perfect way to round off the festive season.
“Come in out of the cold and settle down at the Barn for one of the greatest thrillers and mysteries of all time. Don’t miss it,” added Anna.
Shows will start at 7.45pm, and tickets are £10 each.
Publicity #2: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: December 29 2011 issue – page 4
Correspondent: Amanda Barrell
Text Header: Holmes and Co boost ideal dog homes hunt
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A GHOSTLY dog will lend support to its flesh-and-bone counterparts.
Wick Theatre Company’s winter production is the Hound of the Baskervilles, and as Holmes and Watson battle to solve the mystery, the cast have pledged to help Shoreham’s Dog Trust rehoming centre.
Wick’s publicity officer, Anna Quick, said: “With Christmas being such a busy time for those at the Dogs Trust, and the Hound of the Baskervilles being based on the ghostly spectre of a giant dog, it only seemed appropriate that we offer our support to the charity during the run of our production. We are a registered charity ourselves, but we do try to support other causes whenever possible.”
Bob Ryder, who will be take on the rôle of Sherlock, and Mark Best, who will play Dr Watson, went to the centre last week, when they met a young beagle named Archie. Anna added: “They were bowled over by their new-found furry friend. Archie is in need of a loving home, he is two years old and loves to use both his nose and his voice. He is a very clever boy and would benefit from owners who will enjoy keeping him busy – he likes to learn new tricks for tasty treats!”
She went on to say volunteers would be shaking buckets for the charity throughout the production’s run, at the Barn Theatre, from January 11 to 14.
“Originally serialised in 1901 in The Strand Magazine, Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles follows the infamous Holmes and Dr Watson as they investigate the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, whose lifeless body is found on the misty and desolate Devon moors,” said Anna. “The locals blame his death on the legend of the fearsome phantom hound that they claim has cursed the Baskerville family for generations. When the heir to the Baskerville fortune, comes under threat Holmes’ and Watson’s detective skills are pushed to the limit as they battle to discover the truth behind the legend and to solve one of the most macabre mysteries of their careers.”
The production also stars Guy Steddon as Sir Henry Baskerville and features Ben Cassan, Anna, Judith Berrill, John Garland, David Creedon, Ray Hopper and Maggi Pierce.
Anna added: “It is the perfect way to round off the festival season, so come in out of the cold and settle down at The Barn for one of the greatest thrillers and mysteries of all time. Don’t miss it!”
For tickets, go to www.wicktheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01273 597094.
To offer Archie, or any other of the dogs at the centre a home, call 01273 452576.
Review #1: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: January 25 2012 -on line
Reviewer: Sheena Campbell
Text Header: Cast bring new life to a literary favourite
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WICK Theatre Company had a tough job with its latest production – The Hound of the Baskervilles. A film adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes story was released last year and BBC One’s critically acclaimed adaptation of the Baskerville story aired just days before Wick began its run at The Barn Theatre, in Southwick. Luckily, their version, adapted from the original Arthur Conan Doyle novel by director Tony Brownings, was a tour de force.
The decision to keep set changes to an absolute minimum and indicate new scenes with the same lighting changes each time gave the feel of a chapter being completed and a page turned. It also meant the flow of the story was uninterrupted. The lighting was also key in changing the mood of the moors, providing moments of light relief – the cameos in particular raised a chuckle – and raising the tension as the hound stalked its prey. The moment when the hound made its final leap had most of the audience jumping out of their seats.
The cast, too, was perfectly chosen, showcasing some of Wick’s most talented members. Bob Ryder was unrecognisable from his drunken actor in Noises Off, as he portrayed Holmes with just the right level of arrogance and intelligence. Mark Best was a brilliant Watson – a good detective in his own right but always one step behind his friend Holmes – and Guy Steddon was wonderfully blasé as the initially cynical son who gets drawn into the mystery of the moors.
Several elements of this play – the well-known story, the difficulty of portraying the hound and keeping up suspense throughout – should have meant this didn’t work.
Luckily, for me at least, it did.
Review #2: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Publication: Brighton Argus
Publication Data: January 13 2012
Reviewer: Catherine Meek
Text: Content
Ambition may be greater than possibility in any contemporary dramatisation which takes seriously the 19th-century case of a spectral hound on Dartmoor.
Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel has been variously adapted. In this case writer and director Tony Brownings missed the comedic potential of parody or spoof, as in Spike Milligan’s treatment. If this production could ham it up more then furtive laughs from the audience might become an uproar of hilarity.
The potential threat of an oversized supernatural hound to Sir Henry Baskerville, heir to his family’s fortune, and the mystery of his missing boot lead literature’s favourite detective Holmes and famous sidekick Watson to stray from a Baker Street drawing room to the wilds of Dartmoor. They get more than they bargained for with an escape convict on the loose and internecine intrigue in the Baskerville community.
Wick Theatre Company players do an excellent job at pushing through the story’s limits. The production is very strong on costume and character – David Creedon as butler Barrymore is very amusing. However, the cast is 13-strongwhich – in addition to the hound, cleverly brought in by video, makes for a busy stage at times.
A beautifully evocative set of strings announces each scene and deserves mention, though it is not acknowledged in the programme.
Regrettably the pace is slow but there is potential for the production to pick up, not forgetting the gunshots which, though forewarned, do come as an unwelcome alarm.
Review #3: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Publication: N.O.D.A – National Operatic and Dramatic Association
Reviewer: Phillip Hall – Regional representative for South East Region District 1 – Mid Sussex
Text: Content
Wick certainly brought out their big guns for this production. With a cast including Bob Ryder, Mark Best, Judith Berrill, Guy Steddon, John Garland, Anna Quick and Ray Hopper, at least four of whom have experience as Directors, a performance of some quality could be expected. This was, indeed, achieved and those remaining members of the cast were not outdone and came well up to the standards one expects from the Company.
All the characters were convincingly portrayed with Bob Ryder being a splendid Holmes – more than a little aloof, unruffled and well in control. An excellent Mark Best perfectly fitted what is probably the popular image of Watson. This is a weightily rôle in this play. Guy Steddon made his highly competent contribution with Ben Cassan giving excellent support.
The Stapletons and Barrymores were admirably played and the remaining rôles could not have been improved upon.
The set was well designed to cope with the changes of scene which were admirably displayed by most effective projection. Costumes were fine and props well chosen. Lighting was most effective and the sound effects good despite the baying hound raising a titter from the audience when, on its late playing, it might have been a fault of the sound system!
What an excellent production!
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