By Michael Buzzelli
David Whalen returns to the role of Sherlock Holmes for the eighth time (Editor’s note: technically seventh because of a shocking twist in “Sherlock’s Last Case”) in “A Sherlock Carol.”
Plagued by the death of his archnemesis, Professor James Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes (a spot on Whalen) returns from Reichenbach Falls a despondent, inconsolable shell of his former self, unable to find the joy of Christmas. He spurns his only friend, Dr. John Watson (Simon Bradbury, in multiple roles), and refuses to take any new cases for Scotland Yard.
Emma Wiggins (Carolyn Jerz in various roles) begs Holmes to investigate a robbery, but he refuses. Then, he meets Dr. Timothy Cratchit (Joseph McGranaghan) who asks him to investigate a murder. Don’t worry, if you don’t remember the name from “A Christmas Carol,” he almost immediately mentions his childhood nickname, Tiny Tim.
The point-it-out-to-the-audience-in-the-cheap-seats was a rare misstep in Mark Shanahan’s sparkling script. The comedy rule is “the joke isn’t funny if you explain it.”
If you guessed, Sherlock Holmes must solve the locked-room mystery of the death of Ebeneezer Scrooge (James FitzGerald, also in multiple roles), you win the carbuncle diamond!
His housekeeper, Mrs. Dilber (Helena Routi on opening night, but Susan McGregor-Laine later in the run), takes Sherlock on a tour of Scrooge’s study. Reluctantly, our stalwart Sherlock takes the case.
The mystery leads him in a circuitous path where he encounters strangers and friends, and a woman from his past (Caroline Nicolian).
Note: We’re keeping Nicolian’s identity under wraps, but she’s using the alias of the Countess of Morcar.
“A Sherlock Carol” is a strange hybrid, Holmesian “A Christmas Carol” and a short story “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle.” A hybrid, warped thing that imagines the super hero team-up of Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but written by Mark Shanahan.
Whalen is Pittsburgh’s Sherlock Holmes. This reviewer can’t imagine anyone else in the role. He excels as Sherlock. He has the magnetism, the boldness, the arrogance, the intelligence. Whalen is able to create a fully-realized version of the character.
Simon Bradbury plays Watson, Inspector Lestrade (the bumbling Scotland Yard detective), and Joe Brackenridge. He makes each character distinct and unique.
McGranahan, who also starred in “A Life in the Theatre,” returns to the Kinetic stage in various roles. His Dr. Timothy Cratchit is more of a tall Tim than a tiny one, but he was superb.
Nicolian shines in her roles, particularly as the Countess, who sings “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” While she has some help from the audience, she hits the high notes herself.
FitzGerald is always welcome on any Pittsburgh stage. He brings charm to his various roles. His performance as candlemaker Henry Burke is hilarious. A million actors have played Scrooge. FitzGerald captures his Ebeneezer-y essence.
Jerz is delightful as Emma Wiggins.
Last-minute-replacement actor, Ruoti, had to work with her script in hand, still managed to impress.
Douglass Levine handled the music as effortlessly as he always does.
The sketchy set by Johnmichael Bohach looked an Aha video. Christopher Popowich’s lighting design perfectly illuminated the set with a multitude of electric candles.
There are excellent costume designs by Kimberly Brown. The dapper detective’s final scene is iconic.
Andrew Paul directed a literal kinetic production as the actors raced around the stage.
There are a lot of versions of “A Christmas Carol” throughout Pittsburgh right now. They are popping up like children pouring out of Mother Ginger’s skirt in “The Nutcracker,” but twisted mystery in “A Sherlock Carol” is a gas.
-MB
“A Sherlock Carol” runs from December 13 to December 22 at the Henry Heymann Theatre, University of Pittsburgh, 4301 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information, click here.
