This Saturday, local audio drama troupe performs The Hound of the Baskervilles
Weirton, W.Va., Nov. 10, 2025— Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his invaluable companion, Dr. John Watson, return to Cloak & Dagger On the Air this Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at 4 p.m. at the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau for a brand-new adaptation of the classic novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Admission is free, although donations are always appreciated. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. with a set of Americana music performed by popular musician, R.J. Gaudio, Troubadour. Light refreshments will be available.
Presented in the style of live radio drama, Cloak & Dagger On the Air presents Holmes & Watson in “The Hound of the Baskervilles” will also be livestreamed via The Ohio Valley Cloak & Dagger Company Facebook page.
“Our audience loves Holmes and Watson,” Pete Fernbaugh, creator and head writer of Cloak & Dagger On the Air, said. “So far, we’ve presented brand-new adaptations of 22 short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It seemed like the right time to change things up with one of the four novels he wrote about the detective. The longer form allows for more in-depth character development and multiple intersecting plot lines.”
The Hound of the Baskervilles was originally serialized in The Strand Magazine and was the first Holmes story that had been published in eight years. Conan Doyle had intended to retire Sherlock Holmes for good with the publication of The Final Problem in December 1893. However, much to his personal disappointment, the public demanded more.
“Conan Doyle is on record as expressing frustration with the popularity of Holmes. He was a prolific writer who considered his other efforts to be more worthwhile and felt his Holmes stories were cheap fiction and hackwork,” Fernbaugh said. “The serialized release of Baskervilles was met with a level of passion akin to the latest Taylor Swift album or Star Wars movie.”
In fact, The Strand Magazine could barely keep up with the demand, as people lined up around the block for the latest installment. Conan Doyle realized his fate was sealed and ended up writing Holmes stories until a few years before the author’s death in 1930.
“What I find most interesting about The Hound of the Baskervilles is the conflict between the characters over supernaturalism,” Fernbaugh said. “Holmes is an avowed realist, but Conan Doyle himself was an avowed supernaturalist. It’s fascinating to witness the tension between creator and creation over these ideas. You can tell that Conan Doyle’s heart was with the fantastical elements of the story, but to stay true to Holmes’s nature, he had to plot a plausible and grounded resolution.”
Returning to the roles of Holmes and Watson are experienced and versatile actors John E. Reilly and Robert J. Gaudio, respectively.
“Our audience has repeatedly expressed how much they enjoy watching John and Bob bring these characters to life,” Fernbaugh said. “Their chemistry and rapport as actors echo the chemistry and rapport of the characters as they were written. Both actors are entertaining to watch, as John makes Holmes’s deductions and reasoning seem obvious and believable, while Bob presents Watson in a way that other adaptations often fail to do, as intelligent, thoughtful, and vibrant. Thanks to their portrayals, one ends up respecting and admiring both characters for their unique gifts and insights.”
Cloak & Dagger On the Air presents Holmes & Watson in “The Hound of the Baskervilles” will be performed by Cloak & Dagger On the Air’s acting troupe, The Wayward Saints: Rob DeSantis, Bethany Fernbaugh, David Gaudio, Noah Hilton, Jeffrey Holmes, Karissa Martin, Malachi McClendon, Joel Nau, and Terri Perry. Sound effects for the production will be created by Cloak & Dagger On the Air’s sound effects team, the Holy Foley Molies, and the score–based on the works of Chopin, Offenbach, and Vivaldi–will be performed by classical musician Roberta Fedoush.
Fernbaugh will also appear on Novotney Now, hosted by journalist and talk show host Steve Novotney, this Friday at 4 p.m. to further discuss Saturday’s production. Novotney Now can be heard in the Steubenville/Weirton areas on 100.9 FM and AM1430 WEIR and in the Wheeling area on 100.1 FM and AM1290 WOMP.
Top of WV CVB is located at 243 Three Springs Drive, Suite 17, in Weirton, W.Va., behind Crazy Mexican, next to Weirton Pet Spa, and across the parking lot from Bistro 303 Prime Cuisine.
“We encourage folks to set aside some extra time to check out the local businesses around us,” Fernbaugh said. “Three Springs Drive is filled with many dining and shopping opportunities. We hope our show can bring some traffic their way.”
Cloak & Dagger On the Air is a monthly theatrical series from The Ohio Valley Cloak & Dagger Company that celebrates audio drama from all eras, particularly the fabled Golden Age of Radio.
By reimagining classic radio dramas and literary works, along with premiering original stories written and produced by independent writer and actor Pete Fernbaugh, Cloak & Dagger On the Air strives to give audiences an immersive experience that engages the theatre of their imagination in creating a fully realized storytelling adventure. For more information and for updates on the troupe’s live and recorded productions, please visit The Ohio Valley Cloak & Dagger Company’s Facebook page.
