Five actors, 40 costumes, dozens of costumes changes, eight dressers desperately needed, innumerable laughs, lots of suspenseful gasps and zero costume fails.
At least that’s what Steve Walpert is hoping for when the curtain goes up on “Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery,” the next Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre production.
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In addition to rehearsals, building sets and directing actors, Walpert has spent the greater part of a month coordinating with Caren “Ooollee” Bricker of Vintage Ooollee for the wardrobe.
Three of the actors play multiple roles including males, females, senior citizens and teenagers – each with a distinct voice and mannerisms.
“Will (Jones) starts off as Daisy the maid in Holmes’ 221B apartment. He giggles, walks off and comes back on as Sir Hugo from the 1700s,” said Walpert.
In any given scene, an actor will make multiple changes.
The play is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Hounds of the Baskervilles,” but has Ludwig’s own spin on it.
“Some scenes are scary; some are farcical, but not Monty Python like,” said Walpert, who admitted that some scenes might come just a hair close to Monty Python.
Ludwig is a favorite playwright of Walpert, who has staged many Ludwig creations including “Moon Over Buffalo,” “Lend Me A Tenor” and a few of Ludwig’s other Holmes’ mysteries over the years.
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Not only do the actors have to know their lines, accents and blocking, but they have to know what wig to wear with what costume at what time.
Sometimes the actors look like they’ve gained a few pounds because of the layering of costumes, said Walpert.
When Hancock Fabrics went out of business, Bricker bought every extra-long zipper she could find, and they are coming in handy, she said. She’s cut the back of out a few costumes so they can be zipped and unzipped with speed.
The maid costume Jones will wear will cover his 1700s costume.
In other cases, the changes to the costumes are subtle, but by switching out a tie, vest, mustache or hat, it changes the overall look when the actor transforms into another character, Bricker said.
To keep everyone straight, a color-coded system pairs the actor with the costume piece.
Walpert is still in need of some volunteers who can help the actors with the quick changes backstage. Multiple volunteers are needed because often changes happen with actors simultaneously, and one dresser will be removing a costume piece from one actor, while the other will be putting a different piece on the same actor.
To volunteer backstage, email Walpert at stevewalpert@gmail.com.
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The show will be Oct. 8-9, 15-17, 22-23 at Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre, 32100 Third Ave., Fort Gordon. Dinner will begin at 6:45 p.m. and the play at 8 p.m. for all dates except Sunday, Oct. 17 when lunch will be at 1:45 p.m. and the play at 3 p.m. Reservations are required. Patrons must have their names on the list to be allowed access to Fort Gordon, Walpert said.
Masks are required to enter the building. All groups will be kept together in socially-distanced tables.
Tickets are $30-$54. For reservations, call (706) 793-8852.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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