Alpine Theatre Project’s new production of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” deploys only three actors to play 14 characters at breakneck speed, June 20-29 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.
“Fans of ‘Airplane!,’ the ‘Naked Gun’ movies, Monty Python, or any of the Mel Brooks movies will absolutely love this play,” says ATP Artistic Director Betsi Morrison, “as will fans of Sherlock Holmes. It’s a perfect marriage of suspense and pee-your-pants-funny,”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated Sherlock Holmes story gets a gloriously funny makeover in the riotous three-man adaptation, originally written and produced by the British company, Peepolykus.
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. True to form, the super sleuth begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding the death and investigate the ancient curse of the Hound of the Baskervilles. Packed full of verbal and visual ingenuity, “The Hound of the Baskervilles” became a runaway hit on London’s West End, and is now delighting audiences worldwide.
The production is directed by Simon Needham, an Orlando actor who performed in an acclaimed production of the comedy at the Orlando Shakespeare Company.
Tasked with bringing seven characters to life, including the fearless Holmes, is professional actor Timothy Williams, who is no stranger to playing multiple characters after having starred in ATP’s hit production of “Fully Committed” last summer. Also playing seven characters, including the eponymous Baskervilles, is Nick Spear – perhaps best known to Flathead audiences as the frontman of the popular 80s band, The New Wave Time Trippers. Rounding out the cast of comedians is ATP co-founder and former Broadway actor Luke Walrath.
“The Hound of the Baskervilles” marks ATP 19th summer of professional theatre productions, which also includes the Broadway concert, “Dare to Dream: The Road to Broadway” featuring seven Broadway actors performing July 20, and again July 26-27, with Broadway Summer Training Camp students.
Tickets are $29-$39 with student pricing available. Call 406-862-7469 or visit atpwhitefish.org for tickets and information.