The 2025 theatre season is winding down and Quad Cities’ theatre venues are in full holiday mode as they close out the year. Richmond Hill Players’ offering is the quaintly clever A Sherlock Carol written by prolific playwright, director and actor Mark Shanahan. Baking up this Christmas confection is director Joseph R. DePauw and how sweet it is.
The action takes place Christmas Eve in 1894 in London. The infamous Moriarity is dead and without his nefarious nemesis Sherlock Holmes is suffering from an apparent identity crisis leading to a falling out with his loyal cohort, Dr. Watson. The usually aloof genius turns quite testy and nearly turns away the now grown Tim Cratchit – alias “Tiny Tim” – who implores the famous detective to look into the suspicious death of Tim’s now beloved benefactor, Ebeneezer Scrooge. After a bit of supernatural persuasion, Holmes reluctantly agrees and “the game’s afoot.” Holmes must now employ his remarkable gifts to solve a Dickens of a Christmas mystery.
This script employs six actors who portray 19 characters. Tom Akers as Holmes and Glenn Kluge as Scrooge are constant; Jason Schaad, Amanda Wilson, Samuel Carrington, and Jackie Skiles rotate in and out as the remaining 17 characters regardless of gender. They all wear black shirts and pants and morph into their characters with a top hat here and an apron or shawl there. The result is a delightful romp with the super sleuth while he solves the mystery and redeems his “mojo” along the way.
This production is another where the playwright suggests using a minimal set as well as minimal props. The only permanent set piece is a lamp post adorned with an evergreen garland suggesting the yuletide and several props are pantomimed so the audience becomes actively engaged via their imaginations.
This show is the ideal intro to the holiday season with just enough Christmas that it doesn’t overwhelm allowing us to savor that Thanksgiving turkey.
A Sherlock Carol continues at Richmond Hill Players Barn Theatre in Geneseo, Thursday through Saturday, November 20 through 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 23 at 3:00 p.m.
I’m Chris Hicks, break a leg.