Reviews: Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at Wakefield High School
Written by Ashley Kennedy of Lake Braddock Secondary School
As the lights darken and the curtains open on the gloomy stage of Wakefield High School, a growl echoes through the theater and a pair of glowing eyes haunt the moors of Baskerville. One famed detective is appointed to uncover the footprints of this sharp-clawed terror - Sherlock Holmes.
Premiering in Washington, D.C. in 2015 and adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1902 novel "The Hound of the Baskervilles," Ken Ludwig's "Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery" follows the renowned Holmes and Watson as they investigate England's most eerie realms. Departing from the morbidity of the original novel, the period comedy draws modern audiences in as the pair work hilariously together to stop the sequence of murders targeting the male heirs of the Baskerville lineage.
Impressively depicting the notorious detective was Angelina Kaminsky as Sherlock Holmes. Kaminsky's articulate line delivery and decisive tone commanded both the audience and her sidekick as Holmes developed an intricate lead on his newest case. Her poise served as a grounding presence to her character's less self-assured peers, among them being Clarence Martin as Dr. Watson. Always a step behind Holmes, Martin's attempts to prove himself to his clever comrade were evident in his eager responses and willingness to comply with any task - even investigating Baskerville without his trusted partner. Fortunately, Watson was not alone in his ventures; instead accompanied by a friendly Texan suspected to be the Hound's next victim. Hilariously contrasting the posh inhabitants of England, Xavier Dent's Sir Henry Baskerville sauntered around the stage with one hand extended to greet his acquaintances and the other casually spinning a revolver. His comedic timing and Southern twang mad
e light of the direst of situations, providing the audience with favorable interludes throughout the gruesome mystery.
Bursting onto the stage with maniacal laughter resembling that of a hyena was Daniel Smith's Stapleton. Disguised as a crazed man infatuated with butterflies on the moor, Smith expertly covered Stapleton's calculated intentions as the owner of the murderous hound with a psychotic grin and wild gestures. He slowly revealed himself, however, with impressively precise physicality as he tiptoed toward the Hound's cage or not-so-subtly inched away from Holmes as he realized he was in dangerous company. With hysterical acting choices that consistently did justice to Ludwig's writing, Smith never failed to leave the audience doubled over with laughter, even through his long-sought-after defeat.
Skillfully underscoring the production was Wakefield's head of creativity, Tiago Woodyard. Woodyard's musical compositions, which were featured consistently throughout the murder mystery, drew the audience in with a synthetic orchestral sound corresponding to varying moods. The music served purposes ranging from a subtle background melody to an anticipatory sequence of chords leading up to yet another murder.
Bringing the bloodthirsty beast to life with a hand-made hound large enough to house three actors was the set crew (Aiden Boneudi, James Manners, Jenny Merritt, Ethan Myers). The team executed the construction of the life-sized monster exceptionally well, with materials allowing for a full range of motion that made every attack unique and unexpected. With a several-foot-long body and a chilling face with huge, pointed teeth and glowing eyes, it was easy to comprehend why the moors of Baskerville were a place to avoid after sundown.
With the case finally closed and a job well done, the beloved Holmes and Watson remind us that rationality always finds a way through absurdity - it's only a matter of how closely you're willing to look.
Written by Rachel Rivera of Oakton High School
A gruntling howl echoed through the auditorium as Wakefield High School tackled Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Ken Ludwig's hilarious spin on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic novel. First premiering in 2015, the play transforms the dark, foggy world of The Hound of the Baskervilles into a fast-paced comedy of strange suspects and looming danger on the moor. Though Wakefield's production was relatively simple in its design, it delivered unrelenting energy, sharp comedic instincts, and a cast fully committed to the absurdity, keeping the audience howling with laughter until the final bow.
At the center of the mystery stood Sherlock Holmes, portrayed with crisp precision and clarity by Angelina Kaminsky. Her diction cut cleanly through even the most chaotic moments, grounding the whirlwind of comedy in Holmes's signature brilliance. Her accent remained steady and textured throughout the performance, giving the show an authentic edge. Whether deducing clues or reacting with deadpan to the madness around her, she anchored the production with poise, making every scene she touched stronger and sharper.
If Holmes provided structure, Stapleton, played hilariously by Daniel Smith, provided glorious unpredictable chaos. Smith exploded onto the stage with a boundless energy that electrified every moment. Even in the most simplistic settings, he filled the space with physical comedy and bold expressions that made all of his scenes unforgettable. Complementing his exuberance was Dylan Myers as Miss Stapleton, who navigated the play's contrasting tones of humor and mystery with ease. Her accent and diction were consistently polished, and she shifted from eerie seriousness to amusement with confidence and fluidity.
Though the sets were modest, the props team (Teddy Seylar, Sarah Stolz, August Yates) found inventive ways to bring the story to life�most notably through the delightfully handmade hound costume. Part puppet, part creature, part running gag, the hound became a comedic highlight each time it emerged to terrorize the moors, earning some of the loudest laughs of the night. Lighting (Rue Dove, Sean Glaze, Ike Mandeville, Ella Sitz) and sound (Joel Glaze, Carson Weber-Hansen, Tiago Woodyard) also played an essential role in crafting the atmosphere: vivid red washes sharpened the impact of each onstage death along with gurgling, confirming noises while melodies of the wilderness and cool green tones transformed the stage during moor scenes, giving the illusion of misty wilderness despite minimal scenery.
Wakefield High School's Baskerville delivered a joyfully chaotic and spirited performance that embraced the play's comedic heart. With committed actors, clever technical touches, and humor that never let up, Wakefield provided a show that left an audience thoroughly entertained.