THE HANGOVER REPORT – Mark Shanahan’s A SHERLOCK CAROL cleverly intersects two familiar literary universes

The company of “A Sherlock Carol” by Mark Shanahan at New World Stages (photo by Evan Zimmerman).

Earlier this week, Mark Shanahan’s A Sherlock Carol opened Off-Broadway at New World Stages. There’s usually no lack in options for live holiday entertainment this time of year for New Yorkers and tourists who flood the city to choose from. From dance to classical music/opera to theater, the riches are an embarrassment. Indeed, in terms of theater, there’s at least one stage adaptation or variation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on the boards, one of which is Mr. Shanahan’s concoction, which – as its title suggests – mashes the Dickens favorite with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved creation Sherlock Holmes.

Given the amount of options out there, the question is whether A Sherlock Carol is worth your time and money. The short answer is yes. Mr. Shanahan’s intersection of the two familiar worlds is convincing, as well as clever (no spoilers here!) – and clearly the work of someone who is intimately knowledgeable and very fond of both literary classics. The resulting play is a compelling and surprisingly natural continuation of sorts of the narrative threads established by Dickens and Doyle that should charm fans of both universes.

There’s little not to like about the production (Mr. Shanahan also serves as director), which is staged with an appealing forward momentum that keeps the audience’s interest piqued. For an Off-Broadway show, the production values are a notch above what you’d typically come across – scenic designer Anna Louizos’s set is the model of inspired efficiency and Linda Cho’s costumes are period perfect. Last but not least is the accomplished and fantastically chameleonic cast, which is led by Drew McVety as Sherlock Holmes and Thom Sesma as Ebenezer Scrooge, both of whom give masterful performances. A Sherlock Carol deserves to become a holiday tradition.

RECOMMENDED

A SHERLOCK CAROL
Off-Broadway, Play
New World Stages
1 hour, 55 minutes (with one intermission)
Through January 2

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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