By Mike Renzella | The Haldimand Press
June 26, 2025
PORT DOVER—Hijinx are afoot, a murderous hound is loose on the moors, and a steady stream of laughter awaits all who join world famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his dimwitted assistant Watson as they uncover the mystery of the supernatural beast at the centre of The Hound of the Baskervilles.
While many are likely familiar with the classic mystery written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which revolves around the death of Sir Charles Baskerville – allegedly murdered by a spectral hound on the moors of the English countryside – it’s unlikely you’ve seen a version quite as unpredictable and laugh-out-loud funny as the one currently gracing the stage at Lighthouse Festival Theatre, the second show of their 2025 summer series.
Scriptwriters Steven Canny and John Nicholson originally wrote the play 20 years ago and have returned to revise it routinely as the show travels the world following its initial run in London, England.
With a cast of just three, ‘Baskverville’ is a fast-paced, madcap romp that never takes itself seriously for a second, instead gifting audiences with the sublime comic trio of Jonathan Ellul as Watson, Sweeney MacArthur as Sir Henry Baskerville, and Andrew Scanlon as a scene-stealing, larger-than-life comedic version of the world’s most famous detective.
As Sir Henry, MacArthur brings a hapless boy energy to the role of the last remaining Baskerville, fresh off the boat from Canada to inherit his family’s estate following his uncle’s death.
Despite the alleged hound out to murder him, Sir Henry must constantly be thwarted in his attempts to cross the moors to see his love Beryl Stapleton (played by Scanlon, scoring big laughs in one of several additional roles he plays).
As Watson, Ellul is wonderful, playing Holmes’ trusty sidekick as an oft-bewildered, out-of-his-depth, would-be detective. His chemistry with Scanlon is great, batting jokes back and forth with ease.
Lastly, as Holmes and a stable of other characters, Scanlon gives a standout performance here. It’s not his first time playing a detective on the Lighthouse stage, having previously starred in last summer’s ‘Murder at Ackerton Manor,’ another mystery-spoof that brought the house down.
As Holmes, Scanlon has the accent, the chops, and the comedic timing needed to bring such a heightened, farcical take on the character to life.
The shaggy, lighthearted approach extends to all aspects of the show’s production, with sharp claps of thunder and lightning and comically timed gunshots aplenty, and several hilarious scenes where characters encounter the hound approaching in the distance and try to outrun him across a field of moors plagued by patches of quicksand.
Dummies, fake beards, and terrible wigs all add to the show’s charm, and director Derek Ritschel’s deft hand ensures things never lag, with the action taking place at a brisk pace that means the next laugh is never far away.
“As a director, my greatest joy comes from working with artists who are fearless, and this cast delivers that in spades,” said Ritschel. “Watching them navigate this high-stakes mystery while shape-shifting from butler to baroness to bloodhound is a feat worth witnessing.”
The Hound of the Baskervilles is on the stage at the Lighthouse Festival Theatre on the shores of Port Dover until July 5, and then from July 9-20 at Port Colborne’s Roselawn Theatre. For tickets and information, visit lighthousetheatre.com or call 1-888-779-7703.
If you’re in need of a night full of hearty chuckles, laugh-out-loud moments, and even the odd guffaw, hurry down to Lighthouse and see this one while you can!
After studying journalism at Humber College, Mike Renzella desired to write professionally but found himself working in technical fields for many years. Beginning in 2019 as a freelancer, he joined the team full-time later that year. Since then, Mike has won several awards for his articles thanks to his commitment to presenting an unbiased, honest look at the important news and events shaping our community.
