“Moriarty was dead, to begin with.”
That sentence would cause any lover of 19th-century British literature to do a double take. One half of the line mirrors the opening of Charles Dickens’ novella “A Christmas Carol,” while the rest evokes Professor James Moriarty, the greatest foe of Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.
It’s clear that playwright Mark Shanahan knew what he was doing, using that sentence as the opener for “A Sherlock Carol.” The two-hour-long play is a clever and seamless melding of Dickens and Doyle, bringing together characters from “A Christmas Carol” and the Holmes short story “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle.” The play has been performed around the U.S. and in London, but this is its Pittsburgh premiere.
Pittsburgh’s Kinetic Theatre Company brings Shanahan’s work to life in its production, which runs through Dec. 22 in the cozy Henry Heymann Theatre, situated on the University of Pittsburgh’s Oakland campus.
The plot finds a very cranky Sherlock Holmes being implored to solve two intertwining mysteries: the theft of a very valuable stone and the mysterious possible murder of its most recent owner, one Ebenezer Scrooge.
Bringing in favorite characters from both worlds, including an all-grown-up “Tiny” Tim Cratchit and fan-favorite Sherlock Holmes character Irene Adler, the script makes plenty of winking references to its sources — but would still be a great time for those who are not as familiar.
Director and founder of Kinetic Theatre Andrew Paul has created an economical production that doesn’t cut corners.
The set pieces and props are spare but immersive, from old-fashioned wheelchairs to a well-appointed Christmas tree. As well, most of the actors play double or triple roles, but it’s such a talented cast that each character feels distinct. The production runs like a well-oiled machine with props, music and players working together in harmony.
Naturally, such a play would require a talented Sherlock. Kinetic found theirs in David Whalen, Kinetic associate artist and a mainstay of Pittsburgh theater. Whalen is a perfect fit for the role, seeming to take glee in Sherlock’s prickly moments and his joyous ones. There’s a hint of Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc from the “Knives Out” films here, and that’s not an insult.
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A good Scrooge also matters — or his ghost, anyway — and James FitzGerald brought all of the necessary gravitas to a character who’s been played by some of our best actors.
Helena Ruoti was a last-minute substitution and did an excellent job at Sunday afternoon’s performance considering she’s only been playing her double role of Mrs. Dilber and Mrs. Windgate since Friday. She was one of the most theatrical of the actors and served up memorable moments with confidence.
Another notable performance was that of Joseph McGranaghan, who brought wit and earnestness to three separate roles, most notably that of Tim Cratchit. While Whalen and FitzGerald were both great in their pivotal roles, he was the heart of the cast.
Two of the more subtle heroes of “A Sherlock Carol” were keyboardist (and composer/arranger/music director) Douglas Levine and violinist Cara Garofalo, whose omnipresent music set a perfect atmosphere for a late-19th-century Christmas tale. There were even a few musical numbers of classic carols to really up the seasonal cheer.
Scenic designers Johnmichael Bohach, lighting designer Christopher Popowich and sound designer Mark Whitehead had a lot of scenes and settings to navigate, but managed to imitate the feel of warm living spaces, frigid London streets and rowdy pubs remarkably well. And costumes by Kimberly Brown only add to the richness of the characters and setting.
There are many plot knots to unravel and lessons to be learned in “A Sherlock Carol,” but with such a professional and joyful cast, the heartwarming ending feels earned and sincere. Even the mysteries have fascinating solutions (no spoilers here!).
For an impeccably produced and fresh twist on some literary favorites, make time for “A Sherlock Carol” this holiday season.
Kinetic Theatre’s “A Sherlock Carol” will run through Dec. 22 at the Henry Heymann Theatre in Oakland. To get tickets, visit kinetictheatre.org.