Review: Rhode Island Stage Ensemble on the Case in THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES

It's the season for sleuthing in Rhode Island! Only days after Hercule Poirot wrapped his investigations in South County, the legendary Sherlock Holmes steps into the spotlight at the Rhode Island Stage Ensemble (RISE) Playhouse in Woonsocket. The Hound of the Baskervilles, one of the most popular and mysterious incidents in Holmes' famed casebook, is an ideally atmospheric selection to stage just as dark, chilly autumn evenings settle in over New England.

This Hound is a solid offering for the community-based players and artists at RISE, featuring a brand-new adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel penned by RISE board member Gordon R. Dell. The production, under the direction of Michael Martins, relates key elements of the Baskerville investigation while consolidating exposition for a stage setting.

The facts of the case in The Hound provide a singular conundrum for Holmes and his faithful friend and colleague, Dr. John Watson. Sir Charles Baskerville is said to have died of a heart attack, but certain elements surrounding his demise bear uncanny ties to a fearful family curse - a gigantic demon hound that has stalked the Baskerville line for generations. While Holmes scoffs at any possibility of supernatural happenings, he quickly comes to suspect a criminal element in Sir Charles' death. Furthermore, strange occurrences and furtive warnings surround Sir Henry Baskerville, the young heir to the estate, almost from the moment he sets foot in England, each instance increasing Holmes' initial impression of foul play.

Sir Henry is determined to press on to Baskerville Hall, ghost dog of legend or no, and Holmes insists that Watson accompany Sir Henry into Devonshire. From that moment, Hound really is Watson's story to tell. Doyle knew the eerie atmosphere of this tale would never ring true with Holmes on scene to rationalize away every creaking stair step or ominous encroaching fog, so the detective's own investigations happen largely offstage. The audience instead experiences life at Baskerville Hall through Watson's eyes as he gathers clues in the case.

And RISE has a most excellent Watson in Padriag Mahoney. Mahoney crafts Watson as a mild-mannered observer, smart and sharp, and a capable man of action when the moment calls. There is a trustworthiness in his portrayal of the good doctor, and Mahoney's expressions reflect (often amusingly) Watson's immediate emotions, whether resignedly listening to Jack Stapleton blathering about butterflies, spluttering into his tea at one of Sherlock's sudden deductions, or offering a clear, shrewd eye when discovering a crucial piece of evidence.

Michael Ferron also delivers a standout performance as Devonshire neighbor Jack Stapleton. Stapleton's first overexcited encounter with Watson is paced perfectly, and his dogged pursuit - butterfly net waving wildly - of the elusive Cyclopides is a highlight of the first act. Ferron strikes just the right balance between the lighthearted and the uncomfortable, as slivers of possessiveness and jealousy show through his carefree veneer whenever social interactions involve attentions toward his sister, Beryl (charmingly played by Elizabeth Labrecque).

Perhaps due to his abbreviated time on stage, Christopher Ferreira presents a far more accessible and grounded Holmes in this interpretation of Hound. While Ferreira certainly brings Holmes' famed intensity and tenacity to his investigations, he lacks the air of eccentricity so familiar to this character. This is a warmer, even approachable Sherlock whose most cryptic instructions feel less like aloof directions from a superior intelligence and more a dangerous-but-gleeful part of the game.

Other RISE cast standouts include Marc Laurent, who paints Sir Henry as a brave and rational young man in spite of the "dime novel" circumstances threatening his inheritance - and his very life. Carolyn Coughlin offers a passionate and layered turn as the Baskerville housekeeper Eliza Barrymore, David Almeida is brash and blustery as neighborhood busybody Mr. Frankland, and Elizabeth Parent makes the most of her brief appearances as Mrs. Hudson, Holmes' long-suffering landlady.

RISE's artistic team, under the watchful eye of props mistress Cindy Strobel, employs simple, effective elements to utilize every inch of the Playhouse's staging area. Even before the play begins, the audience spies a coat rack where Holmes' iconic deerstalker hangs next to Watson's familiar bowler. Period-appropriate props give a sense of place and time, while versatile, double-sided partitions speedily transition 221B Baker Street into the windswept Devonshire moors one moment, the dark-paneled rooms of Baskerville Hall the next. Up close, the famed, feared Hound has a strong touch of whimsy about its appearance, but in sheer size, it is more than a match for any Baskerville heir it might choose to stalk "crossing the moor in those dark hours when the powers of evil are exalted."

The Rhode Island Stage Ensemble presents The Hound of the Baskervilles at the RISE Playhouse through October 23, 2016. General admission tickets cost $16-20 each and are available for purchase online at www.ristage.org. The RISE Playhouse is located at 142 Clinton Street, Woonsocket, RI 02985.

Pictured: Padriag Mahoney and Christopher Ferreira

Photo courtesy Rhode Island Stage Ensemble

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