NEW YORK —The fictional worlds of Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lovingly collide in playwright Mark Shanahan’s not-at-all humbug, “A Sherlock Carol” at New World Stages. This delightful mash-up features beloved literary characters, one from the Dickens’ novella “A Christmas Carol” and various elements from Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories—in particular, the only Holmes tale Doyle set during Christmas: “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle.”
It’s Christmas Eve morning in London in the year 1894 and Sherlock Holmes (Drew McVety), “the world’s foremost consulting detective,” is in a terrible funk. Since the death of his arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty three years earlier, Holmes has found no one of similar mental acuity with whom to match wits. As a result, Holmes feels he no longer has any purpose in life and has refused to take on any new cases, though there is no shortage of people seeking his help.
Holmes regards all such new crimes as so simple and mundane as to be beneath him. He has also begun to cut out of his life everyone he previously interacted with, including his former colleague and biographer, Dr. John Watson (Mark Price).
Holmes, a firm disbeliever in the supernatural, has also begun to wonder if he is losing his mind, for everywhere he goes, he sees Moriarty’s ghost lurking in shadows. Said figure often lets out a maniacal laugh, only to turn into someone else (as in, an unassuming passerby) whenever Holmes approaches.
It is in the midst of Holmes’s deep despair that he is approached by Dr. Timothy Cratchit (Dan Domingues). Formerly known as “Tiny Tim,” the doctor asks Holmes to investigate the recent death of Ebenezer Scrooge (Allen Gilmore), someone who literally transformed overnight from a cruel miser to a benevolent soul, and whom Cratchit came to regard as a second father.
Holmes initially declines the case, despite it might having to do with a priceless stolen gem and a missing will. However, finding himself intrigued by what could have possibly caused Scrooge to change his outlook so suddenly all those years ago, he agrees to solve the mystery.
With the game afoot, Holmes finds himself with a plethora of both suspects and unanswered questions. In his quest, the detective encounters Scrooge’s former housekeeper, who may know more than she’s telling; a woman from his own past with whom he shares a long history; a group involved with the sale of geese; a brusque tradesman from Covent Garden; and a local candle maker whose profession may hide something far more sinister.
The Joys of the Season and Beloved Characters
While much of the name dropping and other bits of information included in the show will be instantly familiar to long-time Holmes and “Christmas Carol” devotees, those with only a general familiarity will have absolutely no trouble following the narrative. The clues to solving the mystery are all there, if one knows where to look; and what to look for.
A Fine Cast
McVety gives a wonderful performance as Holmes. He plays him as reserved, with a definite air of superiority, and a clear force to be reckoned with. He’s also someone who comes to understand the importance of never closing one’s life to new possibilities. Gilmore makes the perfect Scrooge, showing both the anger he carried before he became a new man; and the joy and wonder he feels after his transformation.
The rest of the cast, each of whom play multiple roles, all do a fine job. Domingues makes a nicely stalwart Tim Cratchit; Isabel Keating is a lot of fun as Tim’s sister and a bit of a detective in her own right. Her verbal sparring with Holmes proves to be quite amusing. Price is enjoyable as Watson—with his own connection to Scrooge, as it turns out. Joanna Carpenter has fun with the roles of Inspector Lestrade and Mrs. Windigate, a Scottish tavern keeper.
The scenic design work by Anna Louizos perfectly places the story in the time depicted and also helps create an atmosphere where mystery, danger, and frivolity all walk hand-in-hand. The original music and sound design by John Gromada, and costumes by Linda Cho also help in this regard.
To quote one of the characters, “A Sherlock Carol” is quite simply, “a Dickens of a tale,” and a lot of fun.
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