A New Spin on a Classic
Baskerville
In Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Ken Ludwig hilariously reimagines Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic, The Hound of the Baskervilles. Set in the moors of Devonshire, the notorious detective Sherlock Holmes and his faithful assistant, Dr. Watson, are sent to solve the murders of the Baskerville heirs. The “whodunit” element mixed with hilarious character portrayals provides audiences with an experience they’ll never forget.
Doyle’s Classic Murder Mystery
Originally published in 1902 as a magazine serial, Doyle was inspired by the legend of an English hellhound and cursed squire in the real English parish of Buckfastleigh in Devon. Doyle, known widely for his Sherlock Holmes adventures, revived his protagonist following Sherlock’s “death” in his previous book, The Final Problem, due to reader demand. Following the success of The Hound of the Baskervilles, he continued to feature Sherlock in three more anthologies. In total, Doyle produced more than fifty works featuring his infamous detective.
Ken Ludwig’s Spin on a Classic
Although the characters are familiar, Ludwig’s spin incorporates comedy into a dramatic storytelling experience. Through use of props, set design and role-playing, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery stands apart from the original. Notably, only five actors are required to play more than thirty characters throughout the show.
Sherlock in Pop Culture
It wasn’t until Doyle’s works were edited into plays that audiences became familiar with the deerstalker cap and calabash pipe. With appearances in more than 200 films, Guinness World Record lists Sherlock Holmes as the most portrayed movie character. This may be because the rights of the character are now in the public domain following the expiration of Doyle’s copyright.