I love the intimate ambiance of Niton Village Hall, but with perhaps the smallest stage on the Island, the challenge is always how to fit all the cast in – especially if, as with this piece, there are 37 characters!! The redoubtable Pepperpots have solved this – by having most of the actors taking on multiple – up to six and more – characters apiece.

So my first plaudit has to be to the cast who managed to portray so many different people, learning all those lines, changing accents and costumes every few minutes…or seconds…and in one case being two characters onstage at the same time!

In comparison, it seems as if Kevin Wilson and Steve White had it easy, playing Holmes and Watson respectively. Except they – Dr Watson in particular – were onstage throughout most of the play, Both actors bring their acting experience to these iconic roles, with Watson also as narrator, using lines straight from the original Conan Doyle story.

But if you are expecting a straight dramatised version of the famous ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ mystery, you’re in for a surprise – in the nicest possible way. For this version cleverly weaves in plenty of comedy, mainly in the portrayal of some of the characters Holmes and Watson meet along the way….

The other potential issue with this play is there are 30 different scenes, set in varying places – it would have been easy to spend more time set changing than acting, but again the Pepperpots have found the perfect solution – a very basic set with one door set in the back wall, and a booth serving as a hotel reception, tobacconist’s shop and so on as required. Add in a couple of chairs and a stool as the sole furniture, moved by the cast, a few small props and you have the framework for a smooth, well-paced story told with minimal interruption. Some of the props require praise for their comedy value – I particularly liked the hobby horse and the family portraits…

An integral part of the storytelling is the lighting and sound effects, operated by Nick Turvey, which create atmosphere and background – and comedy at times. Costumes too were important to tell us more about the characters – and distinguish between those played by the same actor.

For it was the actors on whom this very funny retelling of the story rests. Shani Watts appeared in three roles; while Sue Clark and Denise Farrow did a cracking double act as two mischievous errand boys, alongside a couple of other characters apiece. Chrissie Blow transformed from Mrs Hudson into a pony and trap driver, shepherdess and a couple of nurses, one Irish.,.oh yes, and Laura Lyons. Phew! At least Chris Turvey only had one role – she was on great form as Beryl Stapleton, the sweet love interest of Sir Henry Baskerville. Ros White was a hoot as a German maid and then the hilariously almost incomprehensible Mrs Barrymore.

Terry Pearson portrayed most of the Baskerville family (giving Sir Henry a creditable Texas accent) along with Inspector Lestrade – watching Lestrade interviewing Sir Henry (both Terry) was worth the ticket price alone. But character actor of the play for me was Steve Watts, who managed to create no less than 10 characters ranging from stately Scots Dr Mortimer, to deaf old Lucy, butterfly-catching Stapleton, Barrymore the butler, a convict, an Irish doctor, a Castilian hotel clerk, to Sir John Falstaff, no less…..And each one was clearly depicted with his own accent, costume and persona – what an achievement!!

Throughout, it was the talent of the cast, underpinned by the flexible use of a cleverly designed set and imaginative sound and lighting effects, which made Baskerville funny, entertaining and a thoroughly good evening at the theatre.