Cast of "The Hound of the Baskervilles"

Hard to say goodbye to this show, which was a crowd-pleasing audience favorite. Everyone loves a good thriller and mystery – and our Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are superb – which adds up to a very, very good show. A rainy, cold Sunday afternoon – best time ever to catch up with one of Sherlock Holmes’ most famous cases!

Last but not least, we profile actress Victoria Roy – someone we haven’t seen on the WCT boards for awhile, and someone we hope to see more of in the future! Victoria (Beryl Stapleton) previously appeared at WCT in Everything in the Garden and a staged reading of Uncle Vanya. Roles in other local productions include Catherine Sloper in The Heiress, Poppy in Noises Off and Florence in The Curious Savage (Darien Players). She has also appeared in Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, and My Fair Lady (Curtain Call); Candida, Enchanted April (Town Players of New Canaan). Film credits include Baptism by Food (Midnight Movie Madness Competition), for which she won best comedy actress. Victoria has trained at HB Studios (NYC) and Stamford Theatre Works.

"May I welcome you to Baskerville Hall, Sir Henry?" "Thank you, Barrymore. It's just as I imagined it, I fear." Dr. Watson (Raymond Stephens), Mrs. Barrymore (Debbie Zager), Barrymore (Steve Benko), Sir Henry Baskerville (David Victor)

As we all know, the success of a show is a collaborative effort between actors, director, tech crew – and the invaluable assistance of all those helping out back stage. Whether it’s folks who assist with changing the sets in between scenes, or making sure the actors’ “props” are in the right places, or executing sound and light cues, or ensuring costumes are cleaned and ready-to-go week after week, WCT could not produce the excellent quality productions we do without them. Thank you to everyone who has worked in any capacity behind the scenes to make “The Hound of the Baskervilles” the success it is!

Final weekend performances for “The Hound of the Baskervilles” brings some new assistance behind the scenes. WCT welcomes new stage manager, Linda Seay; much appreciated stage crew help from Linda Seay, Laura Ploss and Sarah Ploss – and doing double duty, director Skip Ploss on the lightboard.

On stage, WCT is pleased to welcome several actors new (or almost new!) to the stage – and we hope to see you return often! Steve Benko (Barrymore) is thrilled to be making his WCT debut – and as you’ll read in his bio, he follows in the footsteps of his illustrious daughters who have starred locally at Curtain Call, Wilton Playshop, and Downtown Cabaret theaters. He appeared with them in character parts, as the innkeeper in Fiddler on the Roof, a real estate agent in Baby, and as a traveling salesman and the town constable in The Music Man, but this is his first “solo!”

Debbie Zager (Mrs. Barrymore) is also a newcomer to WCT. The Hound of the Baskervilles marks her return to the stage after a long hiatus, during which her starring role has been “Mom of 4.” Past experience includes the National Theater Institute in a traveling children’s production; Oliver and The Children’s Hour (Vassar College); walk-on roles on the soap Ryan’s Hope; and a series of one-act plays at the Westchester Coliseum.

"Because I feared that some false conclusions might be drawn from it, and that I might find myself involved in a scandal." Dr. Watson (Raymond Stephens) and Laura Lyons (Kate Rakowski)

Last of the cast “newcomers” to WCT isn’t really a newcomer – and returns after a too-long absence on the WCT stage! Bob Filipowich (John Stapleton) Bob has been performing primarily in area musicals for the past 19 years, and is pleased for the leave in having to learn lyrics, harmonies and dance steps! He recently played the role of The Leading Player in Wilton Playshop’s production of Pippin. He also appeared there as Vittorio Vidal in Sweet Charity, Flanders in Six Degrees of Separation, The Duke inBig River, Buddy in City of Angels, multiple roles in The Good Doctor¸ and Mike in A Chorus Line many moons ago! He appeared as Harold Hill in The Music Man and Benny in Guys and Dolls at the Curtain Call Theater in Stamford; Rooster in Annie, Billy in Anything Goes, Billis in South Pacific, The Padre in Man of La Mancha, Levi/Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Migaldi in Evita at the Edgerton Theater at Sacred Heart Universty to list a few. His one previous credit at WCT is that of Heinzie in The Pajama Game during the 1991-1992 season. Bob lives in Fairfield with his wife and three teenagers and is an accomplished art director/designer/illustrator for a specialty toy manufacturer.

"That is the great Grimpen Mire. A fake step there means death to man or beast... It's a bad place, the Grimpen Mire." Dr. Watson (Raymond Stephens, left), Sir Henry Baskerville (David Victor, right), John Stapleton (Bob Filipowich, left)

"That is the great Grimpen Mire. A fake step there means death to man or beast... It's a bad place, the Grimpen Mire." Dr. Watson (Raymond Stephens), Sir Henry Baskerville (David Victor), John Stapleton (Bob Filipowich)

Hard to believe that it is the final weekend for The Hound of the Baskervilles! So much work, and the efforts of so many behind people on stage and behind the scenes, go into each production that the final weekend is always bittersweet… Cast and crew have worked hard to make this production the audience favorite it has become – now on to weekend #3!

The Hound of the Baskervilles spotlights the talents of David Victor (Sir Henry Baskerville) today. David is an audience favorite here at WCT; what you might not know is the pivotal role David has played behind the scenes as well. He has served on the WCT board, contributed to many of the theatre’s operating committees, and is always available to share his technical theatre skills! The Hound of the Baskervilles marks Dave’s 9th full production with WCT. On stage, he was last seen as Blades in The Best Man and Markinson in A Few Good Men. David has worked at most of Fairfield County’s local theatres; debuted at Square One Theatre in The Right Kind of People and  in his first full Shakespearean production with Putney Players as Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing. Mark your calendars for David’s next production at Square One Theatre in Stratford – he plays the lead in The Clearing, a romantic drama set in 17th-century Ireland during the reign of Cromwell, opening May 14!

Dr. Mortimer (Scott R. Brill), Laura Lyons (Kate Rakowski) "Well, as it happens, Dr. Watson, Laura Lyons is typing some medical reports for me at the present time. She promised to deliver them this afternoon, but I can just as easily ask her to bring them here."

Did you know that Westport Community Theatre is on Twitter? You don’t have to “Tweet” – follow along to stay up to date with all the latest news and events from WCT, including behind-the-scenes peeks at upcoming shows, staged readings and more! “The Hounds of the Baskervilles” is this month’s featured background – take a look at http://twitter.com/Westport_WCT

Praise for “The Hound of the Baskervilles, ” directed by Skip Ploss and produced by Bob Lasprogato, continues to come in; the title causes some confusion, however. One or more hound? One or more Baskerville? To “The” or not to “The”?! All the title variations are irrelevant when it comes to audience reaction this first weekend – they love the performances and love the story! Follow Off-Book this week for more insights into Sherlock Holmes and his author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Returning to the WCT stage in The Hound of the Baskervilles is Scott R. Brill in the pivotal role of Dr. Mortimer. Scott received his Masters in Theatre Directing from Emerson College in Boston where he directed Man of La Mancha, The Ruffian on the Stair, four plays by Samuel Beckett and numerous one-acts. For Westport Community Theatre, Scott directed this season’s opener, Barefoot in the Park as well as productions of Da, What the Butler Saw, ART, Vanities, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Rumors. Scott’s other directing credits for area theatres include: Blithe Spirit, A Grand Night for Singing (New Canaan Town Players); Our Town, Rumors, A Thurber Carnival, Steel Magnolias (Darien Players); The Sisters Rosensweig, The Real Thing (Wilton Playshop); As Bees In Honey Drown (Brookfield Playhouse); The Actor’s Nightmare, Blithe Spirit (Eastbound Theatre); GYPSY, South Pacific (Musicals at Richter) and Jeffrey, Burn This and several one-act plays (Grand Finale Production Company). As an actor, Scott’s roles include his recent critically acclaimed performance as Crumpet the Elf in The SantaLand Diaries (Playhouse on the Green), Allan Felix in Play It Again, Sam (for which he won the Square One Theatre Subscriber’s Award for Outstanding Actor); Antony Wilding in Enchanted April (New Canaan Town Players); Gonzalo in The Tempest, Hortensio in Taming of the Shrew (Putney Players); Ko-Ko in The Mikado (Musicals at Richter); Wes Hurley in Fifth of July, Lloyd Dallas in Noises Off, Jesus in Godspell (Wilton Playshop); Albert in The Secret Garden (Warner Theatre) and Prince Dauntless in Once Upon A Mattress (SHU Center for the Performing Arts). Scott is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a past President of the Westport Community Theatre and currently serves as the Workshops and Education Chair on the Board of the Wilton Playshop where he recently directed a staged reading of the award-winning new musical, Greenbrier Ghost.

"Now is the dramatic moment of fate, Watson, when you hear a footstep upon the stair which is walking into your life, and you know not whether for good or ill." Sherlock Holmes (Sam Mink), Dr. Watson (Raymond Stephens), Dr. Mortimer (Scott R. Brill)

http://www.westportnow.com/index.php?/v2/comments/27528/

And here’s coverage provided by Westport Patch:

http://westport.patch.com/articles/westport-community-theatre-brings-mystery-to-the-stage#photo-322968

The ensemble cast features an outstanding performance by Raymond Stephens as Dr. Watson. Raymond has been away from the footlights at WCT for far too long – he returns to the WCT stage after his last appearance as Charlie in The Foreigner, also directed by Skip Ploss, several years ago. Last month he was seen as Brendan in the excellent New Cannan production of The Weir. Other shows include Brutus in Julius Caesar (Darien Town Players), Inspector Gore in An Inspector Calls (Forthill Players) and Blore in And Then There Were None (Curtain Call). When not on stage, he is designing sound plots, such as the sound for Catch-22 (Curtain Call).”

Dr. Watson (Raymond Stephens), Sherlock Holmes (Sam Mink)

The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Amazing Cast, "The Hound of the Baskervilles"

Preview audiences last night raved about this production; cast and crew alike are more than excited for tonight’s opening.

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes information on Sam Mink, one of WCT’s favorite actors, portraying one of the most well-known characters of books, stage and screen – Sherlock Holmes:

Sam is pleased to be back working at WCT again. Some of the theatre’s most memorable productions  featured Sam, including Proof, Glengarry Glen Ross, Play It Again Sam, The Three Sisters, The Compleat Works of Wm. Shakespeare (Abridged), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, various readings and workshops, and most recently another well known “character,” the role of Larry Olivier in Orson’s Shadow. Other favorite shows he has done with several area theaters include: Dracula (The Musical), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Arms and the Man, Spoon River Anthology, The Birthday Party, Death of a Salesman, and The Trial of the Catonsville Nine.

Sam Mink as Sherlock Holmes, Raymond Stephens as Dr. Watson

Directed by Skip Ploss, F. Andrew Leslie’s play is adapted from the novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – perhaps the most famous and popular of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, it is a gripping tale that deals with the curse of the Baskerville family and the fiendish killer-hound which stalks its members.

As the action begins, Sir Charles Baskerville has died under mysterious circumstances, and his nephew and heir, the young Sir Henry, has been threatened even before his arrival at Baskerville Hall. Enlisting the aid of Sherlock Holmes, he sets out for his ancestral home on the Devon moor in the company of Dr. Watson, Holmes’ trusted colleague – a journey that brings him to danger, mystery, and a menacing series of events that build with suspense. Hard-pressed to protect his charge, and to fathom the strange mishaps besetting him, Dr. Watson is relieved when Holmes himself appears…

The talented cast features Steve Benko, Scott R. Brill, Bob Filipowich, Sam Mink, Kate Rakowski, Victoria Roy, Raymond Stephens, David Victor and Debbie Zager. Produced by Bob Lasprogato, Trish Goldring is the Production Stage Manager; the production’s inventive lighting design is by Jeff Klein and the intriguing sound design is by Raymond Stephens; both are executed by Amy Louise Carter.

Tickets range from $14 to $18. Groups of 10 or more enjoy a $2 per ticket discount, and there is a special “Student Rush” discount 15 minutes prior to performances for students of all ages with a valid student identification card. For reservations, contact the Box Office at (203) 226-1983. Go to www.westportcommunitytheatre.com for directions to the theatre.

The Saints are winning, I know that’s what you came here to find out.  However, since this is a theater, and we are in the middle of auditions, I hope you will indulge me  some theater news.

The first night of auditions is behind us and the turnout was a little light although I sort of expected it.  One of my favorite parts of auditions is reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. Of all the people who came down tonight there was only one I have not worked with or seen before (I need to get out more I know).  It was great to see everyone including those at the Board Meeting upstairs (sorry folks).

Anyway, on to tomorrow.

I have heard more folks are coming and I look forward to a fresh batch of possible cast members.

Skip

This is my first time here in a little while and so far, sitting at home a cup of coffee on my desk and down booties from IKEA on my feet, it seems to be going very well. Auditions are tonight and tomorrow night and I have had emails from people interested in auditioning which is a good thing given that I know some of their past work.

I love the Westport stage. It is 3/4 round and low. More wide open space than a small cattle ranch in Montana (but fewer trees). The last time, my first here, we did a comedy involving the Klan. Do you remember?

I have a few interesting bits up my sleeve for this show. Should be interesting at least.

This is going to be fun and I can’t wait to get started.

Skip