"A Sherlock Carol" - by Mark Shanahan - Lyric Stage Company (Boston, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Christopher Chew as “Ebenezer Scrooge” haunts Paul Melendy as “Sherlock Holmes” in a scene from Mark Shanahan's "A SHERLOCK CAROL," now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, MA. until December 21, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Hawver)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“Moriarty was dead, to begin with..."
- ("Actor") / Mark Shanahan
Lyric Stage Company
Presents Mark Shanahan's
"A SHERLOCK CAROL"
Written by Mark Shanahan
Directed by Ilyse Robbins
Cast Includes: Christopher Chew* as “Ebenezer Scrooge,” Paul Melendy* as “Sherlock Holmes,” Jon Vellante* as “Actor 1 (Dr. Timothy Cratchit/Mr. Topper/Ralph Fezziwig/Constable Bradstreet),” Michelle Moran as “Actor 2 (Emma Wiggins/Fan “Fannie” Gardner/Inspector Lestrade/Mrs. Windigate),” Mark Linehan* as “Actor 3 (Dr. Watson/ The Countess of Morcar a.k.a. Irene Adler/Henry Burke/Old Joe Brackenridge)”, Leigh Barrett* as “Actor 4 (Martha Cratchit/Mary Morstan/Abigail “Abby” Fezziwig),”
Additional Creative Team:
Scenic Design- Erik D. Diaz**; Costume Design - Sophia Baramidze; Lighting Design - SeifAllah Salotto-Cristobal**; Sound Design - Alex Berg; Props Artisan - Julia Wonkka; Production Stage Manager - Polly Feliciano*; Assistant Stage Manager - Emma J. Hunt; Assistant Director - Joseph Marrella; Assistant Scenic Designer - Justice Hickman-Maynard.
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)
** Member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829
°Member of Stage Directors & Choreographers Society (SDC)
Performances:
November 14, 2025 through December 21, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
All performances to be held at LYRIC STAGE OF BOSTON, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA. 02116
TICKETS:
Contact the Box Office at # 617-585-5678 or go to lyricstage.com
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
Lyric Stage Company rings in the holiday season like the Dickens with a yuletide blending of iconic characters and superb local talent in "A SHERLOCK CAROL."
In Mark Shanahan's two-act play, a depressed Sherlock Holmes (Paul Melendy) is lifted out of his doldrums when he is asked to solve the mystery of (spoiler alert!) the recently departed Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Chew).
Taking place within Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes” timeline, the events in the play occur just after the pivotal events of Holmes’ last encounter with Professor Moriarty going over the Reichenbach Falls.
It is also coincides post-the Charles Dickens’ events of “A Christmas Carol” long after Ebenezer Scrooge witnessed his reformation.
Now, it is Scrooge who is tasked with helping Sherlock “reform.”
(Photo: Jon Vellante on guitar as "Actor 1 " with Paul Melendy as “Sherlock Holmes” and Christopher Chew as “Ebenezer Scrooge” in a scene from Mark Shanahan's "A SHERLOCK CAROL," now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, MA. until December 21, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Hawver)
As the mashup of iconic characters in "A SHERLOCK CAROL" begins, it is 1894, and a fully grown “Tiny Tim” himself – now going by Dr. Timothy Cratchit (Jon Vellante) - recruits Holmes to explore the death of the now-beloved and benevolent Mr. Scrooge.
Holmes, having survived the calamitous events of the falls, appears to be in mourning over the loss of his old nemesis, the late Moriarity, with Holmes now believing he no longer has a reason to exist.
The challenge is gone and the one man, albeit an adversary, who was Holmes' equal and made him feel at his best is now gone, forever.
And yet, Holmes also feels haunted by the "spirit" of Moriarty on this particular Christmas Eve.
Compounding matters - Holmes does not have his longtime colleague, Dr. Watson (Mark Linehan), to lean on this time as Watson has since moved out, married, and the two once-closest of companions...now find themselves estranged.
(Photo: Jon Vellante on guitar as "Actor 1 " with Mark Linehan as “Actor 3 (Dr. Watson)" and Paul Melendy as “Sherlock Holmes” in a scene from Mark Shanahan's "A SHERLOCK CAROL," now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, MA. until December 21, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Hawver)
So, on this foreboding Christmas Eve, Sherlock must overcome his demons in order to solve a mystery, subsequently rescuing the holidays for others…and perhaps even for himself.
Written by Shanahan, "A SHERLOCK CAROL" debuted first as a reading in 2019, then as a virtual presentation in 2020 (COVID – Bah! Humbug!), then finally was presented live on stage from 2021-2022.
Now, Lyric Stage Company offers up the show in fine fashion with a splendid cast, using stunningly visual effects all while guided under the watchful eye of director Ilyse Robbins.
(Photo: Christopher Chew as “Ebenezer Scrooge” haunts Paul Melendy as “Sherlock Holmes” and Leigh Barrett as “Actor 4” in a scene from Mark Shanahan's "A SHERLOCK CAROL," now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, MA. until December 21, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Hawver)
With the exception of Melendy and Chew, the remaining four Lyric Stage Company actors portray multiple characters:
- Jon Vellante as “Actor 1” portrays “Dr. Timothy Cratchit, “Mr. Topper,” “Ralph Fezziwig” and “Constable Bradstreet,”
- Michelle Moran as “Actor 2” plays “Emma Wiggins,” “Fan ‘Fannie’ Gardner,” “Inspector Lestrade,” and “Mrs. Windigate,”
- Mark Linehan as “Actor 3” portrays “Dr. Watson,” “The Countess of Morcar a.k.a. Irene Adler,” “Henry Burke” and “Old Joe Brackenridge,” and finally
- Leigh Barrett as “Actor 4” embodies “Martha Cratchit,” “Mary Morstan” and “Abigail ‘Abby’ Fezziwig.”
The actors, all exceptionally versatile in their performances, share the task of redressing the stage as needed and render several holiday carols in the process to help keep the spirit of the tale vivid.
Costumes, lighting and effects are equally exceptional.
(Photo: Jon Vellante as “Actor 1 " with Leigh Barrett as “Actor 4” in a scene from Mark Shanahan's "A SHERLOCK CAROL," now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, MA. until December 21, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Hawver)
At first, Holmes refuses Dr. Tim Cratchit’s request to investigate Ebenezer’s passing. Cratchit appeals to Holmes, citing the death as “suspicious” particularly considering its timing as Scrooge was updating his will.
Holmes is also approached by one of the “Barker Street Irregulars” named Emma Wiggins (Michelle Moran), whose father has been unjustly arrested for robbery.
Then Holmes goes backstage at a music hall to visit his old friend the Countess of Morcar - a.k.a. Holmes one, true love Irene Adler (Linehan)” - and Irene informs Holmes of a stolen precious diamond called the “Blue Carbuncle,” which she had intended to give to Scrooge as a gift.
Learning of these three seemingly unrelated events all happening now on Christmas Eve - and not one for believing in “coincidence” (to his brother, Mycroft, he once said “the universe is rarely so lazy”) - Holmes soon finds himself on the case as “the game’s afoot!”
(Photo: Paul Melendy as “Sherlock Holmes” with the CAST of Mark Shanahan's "A SHERLOCK CAROL," now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston, MA. until December 21, 2025. Photo Credit: Nile Hawver)
For a Christmas tale, there is an excess of “Easter eggs” in Shanahan’s "A SHERLOCK CAROL" in terms of iconic quotes and “deep cut” literary references - enough to entertain the greatest afficionadoes of either Doyle’s Holmes or Dickens’ Scrooge.
Lyric Stage Company's "A SHERLOCK CAROL" is a “spirited” holiday story and one that should delight the entire family.
"A SHERLOCK CAROL," continues at Lyric Stage Company until December 21st, 2025 and, to use a quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s greatest sleuth, "there is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact" and the obvious fact here is that you must not miss this show.
After the holidays, up next at Lyric Stage Company will be “PENELOPE” by Alex Bechtel, Grace McLean and Eva Steinmetz beginning February 6th, 2026 and running through March 1st, 2026.
For more information and tickets, contact the Lyric Stage Company Box Office at # 617-585-5678 or go to lyricstage.com.
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Approximately two hours with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Two great classics that go great together.
Extra dashes of laughter and intrigue make this cup of yuletide cheer a perfect holiday treat for all.
Moriarty is as dead as a doornail.
Sherlock Holmes is depressed.
Without his number one adversary, what’s the point of it all?
Enter a grown-up Tiny Tim and the mysterious death of everyone’s favorite humbug and it’s a festive literary mash-up with surprises around every corner.
This fresh and charming reimagining of two of the most beloved literary characters is a Dickens of a yuletide detective story that’s as “good as gold.”
Six actors transform before your eyes in a playful, clever, and joyous holiday comedy that is “elementary” for a festive outing sure to delight audiences of all ages.
ABOUT THE LYRIC STAGE OF BOSTON
Founded in 1974 and in residence at 140 Clarendon Street since 1991, THE LYRIC STAGE OF BOSTON is Boston’s oldest resident theatre company. Our mission is to produce and present live theatre in Greater Boston with an intimate approach that promotes inclusivity and connection. THE LYRIC STAGE leads an effort to integrate live theater and theater education into the lives of all residents of greater Boston.
140 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA. 02116
# 617-585-5678
