When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on his estate with a look of terror still etched on his face and the paw prints of a gigantic hound beside his body, the great detective Sherlock Holmes is summoned from Baker Street with Dr Watson in tow to unravel the mysteries surrounding his death and investigate the ancient curse of the Hound of the Baskervilles. In this hilarious, new adaptation for three actors, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic mystery has been supercharged with playfulness and wit reminiscent of Monty Python and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).
The Hound of the Baskervilles is the fifth production in the “Penfold in the Park” series, an annual offering of free, outdoor summer theatre, made possible by a partnership with the City of Round Rock. Previous productions include The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (2010), Servant of Two Masters (2011), Shipwrecked! (2013) and Romeo & Juliet (2014).
Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through June 27 at the Round Rock Amphitheater, 301 W. Bagdad Ave.
This fresh re-telling of Doyle’s beloved novel was developed by the British comedy trio Peepolykus in 2007 and toured the UK before landing in a successful West End Run that garnered praises from the London press: “Unfailingly hilarious” (Guardian); “The most popular of the Sherlock Holmes stories becomes pure comic bliss” (London Stage). Now hopping the pond, Hound receives its regional premiere at the Round Rock Amphitheater.
No reservations are required. Donations are appreciated. Penfold Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Hound of the Baskervilles concludes Penfold’s seventh season.
Fast facts
The Hound of the Baskervilles
- By Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson
- Directed by Emily Rankin
- Featuring Ryan Crowder, Eva McQuade and Toby Minor
- June 4-27, 2015
- At the Round Rock Amphitheater (301 W. Bagdad Ave., Round Rock TX 78664)
- Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.
- Free admission, donations appreciated
More information available at penfoldtheatre.org.
About Penfold Theatre Company
Penfold Theatre Company cultivates a love for live theatre in northern Travis and Williamson Counties by offering first-class, professional theatre performances and education programs. 2014-15 is the company’s seventh season and features a variety of work from cherished classics to regional premieres: Now Then Again (September 2014), A Miracle on 34th Street Classic Radiocast (December 2014), The Last Five Years (March 2015) and The Hound of the Baskervilles (June 2015).
