The crowd was delighted at the opening night Thursday, April 25 of Tallulah Falls School’s (TFS) student-led production of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Bringing a comic twist to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most popular thriller, Shirley Holmes, played by Piper Allen, and Jennie Watson, played by Lizzy Wanner, are left in charge of the famous flat at 221B Baker Street.
The laughs never end as the nieces of the iconic duo channel the mystery-solving brilliance of their uncles to save Sir Henry Baskerville, played by Charlie Harris, from a decades-long family curse.
Student led production
A student-led production means exactly what one would think; students take the lead and run the show from beginning to end. Production stage manager and graduating senior Becca Heyworth is comfortable taking on such a challenge.
“This was a great show to end my high school career on, although a very simple set, there is an extravagance to it,” Heyworth said.
The theater program at TFS has developed Heyworth’s natural leadership abilities and technical skills, “I have learned how to get my peers to respect me quickly, learned so many techniques for stage building. I know how to use a jigsaw. I can build stairs and so much more.”
Heyworth credits Fine Arts Director Jonathan Roberts for his ability to transfer theater expertise and set-building skills in a hands-on, practical way that nurtures students’ natural talents.
Sophomore Charlie Harris, who has performed in TFS shows since the 7th grade, plays Sir Henry Baskerville. He describes Hound as a bit of departure from some of the more serious dramas TFS has produced recently.
Harris states, “This show is funny, quick and moves fast. The audience will not expect its surprise twists and turns, conveyed in a very humorous way through clever blocking, sound and lighting.” Harris has appreciated the opportunity to hone his comedic talents in this production, noting that on-stage comedy is often harder to perform than drama.
TFS 5th grader Turner Lander is featured in several cameo roles as a horse, a henchman, a shepherd, a messenger, and he is part of the ensemble that brings the hound to life-representing the tail.
This is Turner’s second upper school production. He played the young JM Barrie in last season’s production of The Lost Boy. Turner enjoys bridging the gap between the TFS lower and upper schools and appreciates how the cast and crew have taken an interest in mentoring his theater development.
Director debut
Making her directing debut, junior Katie Anderson cannot praise her fellow students enough, “This cast and crew have put in many hours to bring this production to stage. They have inspired me with their positive attitudes and hard work. It has been a joy to work with each of them.”
In addition to Heyworth, Hound was the last TFS performance for several other senior thespians. The opening night crowd was “wowed” by the originality of the steampunk-themed costumes designed by graduating senior Grace Stout, the sophisticated lighting
managed by Pola Pilicka, and of course the impressive on-stage talent of Piper Allen, Marc Crotta, and Lilly Kate Farrar.
Of the graduating seniors, Anderson said, “We are graduating a very gifted and irreplaceable group of thespians, it was an honor to be a part of their final TFS performance. They were fantastic to collaborate with on this show and I am very proud of what they produced.”
You don’t want to miss the final performances of this fast-paced, witty show!
There are two remaining opportunities to see The Hound of the Baskervilles.
The performances will be held Friday April 26 and Saturday April 27. Both performances will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Gertrude Long Harris Theater at Tallulah Falls School located at 201 Campus Drive in Tallulah Falls.
