2018 in St. Louis has been a year of serious theatre. What I’m talking about here is serious, as in not funny. Maybe it’s coincidence but for those who go to a lot of theatre or watch a lot of news, it’s been heavy going this calendar year. So when something lighter comes along, it’s welcome. That’s what Insight Theatre Company’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery is offering.
I acknowledge that I’ve never read Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic detective stories, so I come in as a rookie to his work. The play is a farce from Ken Ludwig, who’s best known for his Lend Me a Tenor, among his Broadway hits. Like all farces, it’s best when it’s mostly played with a straight face, something Insight mostly achieves, except in certain precise and delightful spots.
It takes place primarily in a country house and the moors of Devon, and Sherlock Holmes' London abode. A titled landowner has been found dead in inexplicable circumstances, and his friend, a local physician, has come to Holmes’ flat i to ask him to look into things. The heir to the title, who’s from Texas, is arriving the next day. After some back and forth with his friend and second banana Dr.Watson, and meeting the heir, Holmes is agreeable He sends Watson off to Devon with the Texan to act as a bodyguard and see what he can learn.
John J. O’Hagan is a fine Holmes, calm and unruffled as befits a man who operates on logic and reasoning. Dr. Watson comes to us via Kent Coffel, all beard and tweed, trusting his pal despite his own hesitation, and doing a fine job with his physical comedy as well as his lines.
After that – well, the cast lists “Actor 1”, “Actor 2” and “Actress 1”. All three play multiple roles. We first see Elliot Auch as the young doctor who hires Holmes. Ed Reggi’s first appearance is a brief one as a maid, in a bit that’s reminiscent of English Christmas pantomimes, when female roles are sometimes played by men, but we see a lot more of him as the new lord from Texas. Gwen Wotawa handles most of the female roles and a male or two as well. Lots of fast changes and some wonderfully bad wigs here, all a boatload of fun. Great work from all these folks.
Maggie Ryan, Insight’s artistic director, directed Baskerville. The set is from the mind of Luke Shryock, with lighting from Connor Meers. Robin Weatherall’s sound design, with some great music choices, adds to it all. Megan Harshaw’s costume work is best shown with the quick-change stuff, and works well.
As the Reader’s Digest says every month, laughter is the best medicine. It may not be covered by your insurance, but it’s really effective.
Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
through October 29
Insight Theatre Company
.ZACK Theatre
3224 Locust St.