Inspect This 'Hound' For Laughs

The Hound of the Baskervilles

By Steven Canny & John Nicholson

Directed by Thomas Derrah; Scenic Designer, Carlos Aguilar; Costume Designer, Mallory Frers; Lighting Designer, Steven McIntosh; Sound Designer & Composer, Nathan Leigh; Assistant Director, Noah Simes; Stage Manager, Dominique D. Burford; Assistant Stage Manager, Mariliza Parker

CAST: Remo Airaldi, Sherlock Holmes, et al; Trent Mills, Sir Henry Baskerville, et al; Bill Mootos, Dr. Watson, et al

Performances through August 22 at Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA; Box Office 866-811-4111 or www.centralsquaretheater.org

It doesn't take a detective to figure out who's behind the hilarious whodunit The Hound of the Baskervilles at the Central Square Theater in Cambridge. Thomas Derrah's fingerprints are all over this spoof of the famous Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's tale about the bloodthirsty beast that haunts a venerable family on the Devonshire moors in southwest England. As the director of the 2007 adaptation by Brits Steven Canny and John Nicholson, Derrah sets the pace at furiously funny and propels his talented ensemble, including fellow A.R.T. veteran Remo Airaldi as Sherlock Holmes, on a high speed journey from Baker Street to Baskerville Hall.

The other passengers on the trip are Bill Mootos as Holmes' sidekick Dr. Watson and Trent Mills as Sir Henry Baskerville. Watson requires constant reassurance that he is valued and Mootos does a wonderful job of idolizing and sucking up to his boss, as well as personalizing his professional relationship with Sir Henry. Although the latter is said to be Canadian, Mills plays him as a bit of a cowboy and infuses him with joy and enthusiasm. His charm and energy give his performance a boost, although Mills is the rookie in this lineup.

While the playwrights have rendered Hound as a farce, it does closely follow the original Doyle story. Holmes and Watson must figure out who is behind the murder of Sir Charles Baskerville before something similar befalls Sir Henry, the current occupant of Baskerville Hall. There are a number of suspects and suspicious characters, including the servants Mr. and Mrs. Barrymore, lepidopterist Stapleton, and an unseen convict. It may seem obvious that the beastly hound is the culprit, but there is a sinister person controlling the leash. Who can it be? Will the detectives figure it out in time? How many more people will die? How many puns can fit on the head of a pin? Suspense builds amidst the humor, augmented considerably by the loud howling, dimming lights, and ominous music played every time someone mentions the words "the hound of the Baskervilles."

The dialogue is dripping with plays on words, especially those that are canine related, and the actors feast on them. The eye rolls and winks are numerous, as are the sight gags and quick costume changes. If you like your comedy broad, this one's for you. Canny and Nicholson have even borrowed some shtick from Mel Brooks and The Producers at the top of the second act when they, er, "review" what has transpired up to that point. When the actors step out of character to be themselves, it is a clever device that works wonders to set up the bit.

With all of these things going for it, The Hound of the Baskervilles still hinges on the guy in the deerstalker cap. The brilliance of Airaldi's performance is that he underplays Holmes with calmness and reserve, while employing quirks and silliness to create his other characters. His sinister Stapleton bears a resemblance to Peter Lorre, butler Barrymore is Hitchcockian, and the fan-dancing Brazilian vixen who entices Sir Henry defies description. Their dream sequence tango is worth the price of admission.

Scenic Designer Carlos Aguilar welcomes us into a turn-of-the-20^th-Century Theater with a framed set piece that features panels which the actors rotate from indoor walls to foggy moor scenes. Lighting Designer Steven McIntosh and Sound Designer Nathan Leigh help to seriously ramp up the creepiness factor with well-timed effects. Costume Designer Mallory Frers wraps everyone in classic Victorian garb, including the Sherlock Holmes signature hat and cape coat, as well as other appropriately chosen hats and wraps to indicate new characters, as diverse as a porter, a fortune teller, and a housemaid. After all, clothes make the man and, in this case, the woman as Airaldi gets in touch with his feminine side for two of the multiple roles he plays.  

Theater choices being limited in the city at this time of year, the month-long run of The Hound of the Baskervilles is a welcome addition to the offerings of the seasonal venues. Providing shakes of laughter and shivers of horror, it seems just the thing for a steamy summer night.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Stewart (Bill Mootos, Remo Airaldi)