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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Like the original novel, the play follows Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they investigate the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, who is believed to have been killed on his estate by a terrifying beast. Their investigation leads them into a twisting mystery populated by an array of eccentric suspects and unexpected revelations, as those connected to the Baskerville family become convinced that the legendary curse involving a ghostly supernatural hound is far more than mere folklore. While Ludwig is famous for his farces, as well as his book for the Tony-winning musical, Crazy for You, for Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery he's employed the blueprint for the hit stage comedy based on another famous literary mystery classic, The 39 Steps, which used a very small cast with most playing multiple characters of both sexes, speaking funny accents, and split-second costume changes that ratchet up the humor. Unfortunately, it doesn't work quite as well here. Ludwig has adapted other famous mystery novels, including Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express," that have moments of comedy within the mystery and, like his more famous plays, don't have the cast playing multiple parts like they do here. While having the cast play numerous roles does deliver some big laughs, the comedy is sometimes so over the top that it overpowers the mystery plot, which creates a weird and continual shift in tone throughout; Watson's serious narration, in particular, is often at odds with the zany moments that come before. There is also the issue that the main character of Sherlock Holmes is basically reduced to a supporting character and the slightly convoluted mystery plot, with the constant humor interjections, gets lost. These shortcomings in the script make Baskerville less successful, and less humorous, than The 39 Steps. Fortunately, the cast and creative elements for this production are quite good. David Seitz, Jacob Shore, and Rachel Brumfield throw themselves into the multiple roles they play with glee. Their nonstop and quick costume and wig changes, with the addition of funny dialects and comical expressions, add plenty of humorous moments to the show. Matthew R. Harris makes a commanding and amiable Watson, while Chris Fidler gets the unfortunate task of playing a subdued version of Holmes, which, in addition to the character's small amount of stage time, makes the role seem less important. Director Van Rockwell's effective staging makes good use of the various exits and entrances in the in-the-round space, with the addition of some fun sight gags and crisp sound effects (Roger McKay and Rockwell) that ratchet up the humor and hijinks. Cheryl Schaar's set and prop design, which uses period portraits and lanterns on the walls that surround the audience, and Don Bluth's beautiful lighting create a moody environment. Heather Riddle's costumes are rich and comical, and the hair, wig, and makeup designs by Selina Rain and Matthew R. Harris help the cast quickly inhabit the many roles they play while also adding a few funny touches. Also of note, stagehands Marissa JP Avery, Ryan Talbert, and Cam Oakes appear to be a crackerjack team that help keep the split second costume and set changes on point. While I have some quibbles with the script of Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Don Bluth Front Row Theatre's production features a gung-ho cast who create many humorous characters and deliver several laugh out loud moments. Fans of zany comedies or those who enjoyed The 39 Steps should have fun, but if you're a fan of serious Sherlock Holmes' adaptations, prepare yourself that the humor overshadows the dramatic bits and the plot gets mostly lost along the way. Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery runs through August 29, 2026, at the Don Bluth Front Row Theatre, 8989 E. Vía Linda #118, Scottsdale AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.donbluthfrontrowtheatre.com or call 480-314-0841. Directed by Van Rockwell Cast: |
