Reader Reviews
The Hound of the Baskervilles (Duchess Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Utterly entertaining! I have enjoyed it until the last gag.The three actors were hilarious and the play ingenious. - Christina | 09 May 07 |
| Very funny show, with great three-man cast giving their all. Particularly enjoyed Javier Marzan as a very Spanish Sherlock Holmes. The lightning recap of the first half is the highlight. - houndtang | 08 May 07 |
| Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles has always been verging on a farce, so it's about time the West End gave up playing it straight and laid on the camp. However, Hound's midnight moor chases, bluff heroic types brandishing service revolvers, butlers who you just know did it, ceaseless airs of conspiracy and double-bluff, all lend themselves well to cabaret. The Duchess Theatre's production sees the play's funny side and serves up the original with a large portion of added slapstick. The three sole actors get the workout of their lives playing all roles, male and female. The female roles of Mrs Barrymore and Stapleton's wife (masquerading as his sister) are nearly always the funniest. Holmes is played with masterful calm by Javier Marzan, Sir Henry Baskerville is Jason Thorpe, and John Nicholson gives good baffled-sidekick as Dr Watson. Reminiscent of the Marx Brothers at their most fast-paced and hilarious, the play tears through the tale, including a high-speed review of the first act for no real reason other than sheer high spirits and it's incredibly funny. The scenery is equally snappy and entertaining: the snooker table the size of a chocolate bar must be seen to be believed, and watch out for the train scene. Occasionally the actors break through the fourth wall, as when Jason Thorpe halts playing Sir Henry because he thinks the stagehands are trying to kill him - much as his Victorian alter ego fears for his life - which left the audience a little bewildered. But despite this minor quibble, if you go down to Grimpen Moor today, you're sure of a big surprise... - Nina Romain | 26 Apr 07 |
| Having enjoyed three of their previous shows in Edinburgh, I'd really like to give this a rave. Though it's fun, well performed and well staged, it's not really up to a West End run, and in particular, not up to The 39 Steps, which does it all so much better. - Gareth James | 24 Apr 07 |
| Great fun and performed with enormous charm. A joy from beginning to end. Highly recommended. - Charlie | 19 Apr 07 |
