"The Hound of the Baskervilles" - by Steven Canny & John Nicholson - The Majestic Theater (West Springfield, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Jack Grigoli as “Sir Henry,” Jay Sefton as “Watson” and Abuzar Farrukh as “Sherlock Holmes" in a moment from "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES" now playing at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, MA. through February 15, 2026. Photo Credit Kait Rankins)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes."
- ("Sherlock Holmes") / Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Majestic Theater
Presents
"THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES"
Written by Steven Canny & John Nicholson
Directed by Gina Kaufmann†
Founding Producing Director - Danny Eaton
Producing Director - Sue Dziura
Cast Includes: Jack Grigoli* as “Sir Henry,” Jay Sefton* as “Watson,” Abuzar Farrukh* as “Sherlock Holmes,” Understudies: Tom Dahl (as “Watson/Sir Henry”) and Gabriel Cifuentes (as “Holmes”)
Additional Creative Team:
Production Manager - Marcus Kearns; Stage Manager - Hope Rose Kelly*; Production Assistants - Elie Berman, Michael Garcia; Set Designer - Dana Weintraub; Lighting Designer - Daniel David Rist; Costume Designer - Dawn Mckay; Sound Designer - Ryan Hickey; Technical Director - Alan Schneider; Assistant Technical Director - Chase Trumbull; Wardrobe Mistress - Christine Thompson; Props Supervisor - Dana Weintraub; Covid Compliance Officer - Carol Rucinski.
*Member Of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in The United States
Performances:
January 8, 2026 through February 15, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
MAJESTIC THEATER, 131 Elm Street, West Springfield, MA. 01089
TICKETS:
For tickets and more information, contact the MAJESTIC THEATER box office by phone at # 413-747-7797 or visit www.majestictheater.com
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Ringing in the new year, Majestic Theater in West Springfield offers up a frantic and fun retro-farce set in an earlier century and based upon Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s immortal fictional detective Sherlock Holmes in "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES."
"BASKERVILLES" is the third of the four crime novels by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle featuring Holmes, and this madcap production lampoons the legacy of everyone’s favorite insufferable, erudite sleuth courtesy of writers Steven Canny and John Nicholson.
In the Majestic production, a trio of performers (Abuzar Farrukh, Jay Sefton and Jack Grigoli) each takes a turn portraying a plethora of characters with costume changes that occasionally occur at a frantic pace.
As the spooky tale begins, wealthy landowner Sir Charles Baskerville (played by Jack Grigoli, briefly) is found “murdered dead” in the park of his manor surrounded near the grim moor of Dartmoor (aka “Dartmoo” but you have to see it to believe it), in the county of Devon, England.
While seemingly having died by heart attack, foul play is suspected, otherwise we wouldn’t have a story here.
The deceased Baskerville’s best friend, Dr. Mortimer (also played by Grigoli), is convinced that Baskerville perished due to a ghastly, ghostly, demonic “hound” that haunts the moor.
Dr. Mortimer travels to 221B Baker Street in London and asks famed detective Sherlock Holmes (played by Abuzar Farrukh) for help in effort to prevent a similar fate from happening to the estate’s sole surviving heir, Sir Henry (another Baskerville played by Grigoli).
Grigoli is quite skillful in transitioning from one eccentric character to another, often having to do so at a frenetic pacing.
(Photo: Jack Grigoli as a framed "Baskerville" with Abuzar Farrukh as “Sherlock Holmes" in a scene from "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES" now playing at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, MA. through February 15, 2026. Photo Credit Kait Rankins)
Farrukh plays a variety of characters outside of Holmes, all quite well, but which is part of the problem with the structure of this particular parody.
As anyone who is a Holmes afficionado knows, Holmes is a master of disguise.
So, one never knows if Farrukh is playing Holmes playing somebody else or if the character being portrayed stands apart from the ones played by Holmes in disguise.
However, as Holmes, Farrukh artfully illustrates the British sleuth’s trademark skills of keen observation and intuition, even if only on a surface level for this farce.
Jay Sefton plays Holmes faithful assistant, Dr. Watson, with lesser obstacles since Sefton doesn’t play as many alternate characters.
At the January 16th Majestic Theater performance, the above role was handled magnificently by understudy Tom Dahl.
(Photo: Jay Sefton as “Watson” with Jack Grigoli as an eccentric local in a moment from "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES" now playing at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, MA. through February 15, 2026. Photo Credit Kait Rankins)
At the beginning of the story, it is mentioned that Dr. Watson is actually the “lead” in "BASKERVILLES" (if one were “counting the lines”) yet, while this claim is said in jest, it is actually not far from the truth.
As the story’s only other main protagonist, in this one particular case, Dr. Watson actually is featured more prominently throughout much of the story attempting to try and solve a case sans Holmes' guidance.
Dr. Watson also bonds closely with Sir Henry Baskerville (Grigoli) whose mortality is at great risk being the late Sir Charles's nephew and closet living relative.
As written, there are a multitude of comedic moments, and the rapport between the characters of Watson and Sir Henry is reminiscent of an old “buddy” movie (a la “Abbot and Costello” or the “Hope and Crosby” road movies).
The sparseness of the Majestic Theater stage allows the actors to utilize minimal set pieces and props, quickly moving them on and off stage and thus maximizing the space, allowing the audience to fully enjoy the energetic antics of the trio on stage.
(Photo: Jay Sefton as “Watson” and Abuzar Farrukh as “Sherlock Holmes" in a moment from "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES" now playing at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, MA. through February 15, 2026. Photo Credit Kait Rankins)
This adaptation of "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES" was originally performed at The Duchess Theatre in London in 2007.
Almost immediately, comparisons to the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)” will happen and justly so.
Having since been staged in the UK, Canada and the US, this adaptation has three actors performing an array of characters.
Even how the Two-Act farce opens and concludes its first act is quite reminiscent of “Abridged.” It doesn’t mean it is bad – in fact it is quite funny - but where “Abridged” had all of the Bard’s catalog to work with, "BASKERVILLES" is a single entry in the catalog of Holmes adventures which makes this spoof somewhat limiting.
If the writers had attempted to work with ALL of the adventurous stories of the famed detective, it may have proved more challenging and amusing, providing more “Easter eggs” from the Holmes lore.
Yet this is not the fault of this talented trio of Majestic Theater performers who are outstanding in their combined effort to play Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1901 novel for laughs.
In fact, the accelerated recap of Act One at the beginning of Act Two is pure comedy gold thanks to the collaborative performances of the actors.
(Photo: Jack Grigoli as “Sir Henry,” Jay Sefton as “Watson” and Abuzar Farrukh as “Sherlock Holmes" in a moment from "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES" now playing at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, MA. through February 15, 2026. Photo Credit Kait Rankins)
It is no mystery that "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES" is hilarious and that it continues at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield until February 15th, 2026.
Coming up next at the Majestic Theater will be Ken Ludwig’s heartfelt and comical “DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE,” beginning February 26th, 2026.
For tickets and more information, contact the Majestic Theater box office by phone at # 413-747-7797 or visit www.majestictheater.com
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours, 20 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Master sleuth Sherlock Holmes and trusty Dr. Watson unlock the mystery of "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES"
Enter the world of deductive reasoning and elementary logic, absurd accents and ridiculous puns as a minimal cast of actors inhabit more than a dozen character roles in "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES!"
ABOUT THE MAJESTIC THEATER
Locally-produced professional live theater since 1997. Before it was a live theater, local residents may remember THE MAJESTIC THEATER as a movie house. It has since been renovated and reimagined to bring live performances to the West Springfield area, giving local performance and technical artists the opportunity to thrive. Every season at THE MAJESTIC consists of five productions (including at least one musical) featuring local actors. In addition to the subscription season, the summer includes children's theater, concerts, plays, open mic nights, and improvisational comedy shows. Recently named the best place to see live theater in the Pioneer Valley in the Valley Advocate Readers' Poll, THE MAJESTIC THEATER continues to offer great theater thanks to the support and generosity of its 4200+ subscribers.
131 Elm Street
West Springfield, MA. 01089
# 413-747-7797
