A Sherlock Carol, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT, USA

We first saw Mark Shanahan’s A Sherlock Carol in December 2022 when it played Off-Broadway in New York City on the New World Stages and were thrilled when we learned that he was bringing his play to the Westport Country Playhouse for a holiday run from December 19 – 23, 2023. Interesting to note is that the Off-Broadway production of A Sherlock Carol was nominated for a 2022 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Play and was selected as a “Critic’s Pick” by The New York Times.

Drew McVety (Sherlock Holmes),
Byron St. Cyr (Ebenezer Scrooge)
Dan Domingues (Cratchit)
A Sherlock Carol
photo by T. Charles Erickson

We had the pleasure of seeing A Sherlock Carol again, this time at the Westport Country Playhouse on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, where the playhouse was filled with patrons of all ages and the holiday spirit was in abundance. Writer and Director Mark Shanahan’s A Sherlock Carol is a delightful mélange of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (published in 1843) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes (published in 1892).

Byron St. Cyr (Ebenezer Scrooge)
A Sherlock Carol
photo by T. Charles Erickson

A Sherlock Carol brings together Sir Conan Arthur Doyle’s characters Sherlock Holmes played by Drew McVety, and Dr. Watson played by Joe Delafield, with Charles Dickens’ characters Ebenezer Scrooge played by Byron St. Cyr, and Dr. Timothy Cratchit (Tiny Tim is now an adult and working as a doctor) played by Dan Domingues.

Isabel Keating (The Countess), Drew McVety (Sherlock Holmes)
A Sherlock Carol
photo by T. Charles Erickson

The talented and versatile cast play multiple wacky and zany characters that will have you laughing in the aisles with their outrageous behavior. In addition to playing Dr. Watson, Joe Delafield also plays the characters Mrs. Dilber, Henry Burke, and Old Joe Brackenridge. In addition to playing Dr. Timothy Cratchit, Dan Domingues also plays the characters Mr. Topper, Ralph Fezziwig, and Constable Hopkins.

Drew McVety (Sherlock Holmes),
Byron St. Cyr (Ebenezer Scrooge)
A Sherlock Carol
photo by T. Charles Erickson

Rounding out the exceptional cast are Isabel Keating as The Countess of Morcar, (who also plays Martha Cratchit – Tim’s sister, Mary Morstan, Abigail Fezziwig, Caroler, and Woman in Restaurant), and Sharone Sayegh as Emma Wiggins (who also plays Fan Gardner, Inspector Lestrade, and Mrs. Windigate.)

Drew McVety (Sherlock Holmes),
Byron St. Cyr (Ebenezer Scrooge)
A Sherlock Holmes
photo by T. Charles Erickson

The set design by James J. Fenton is spectacular and the costumes by Linda Cho are sumptuous and transport the audience to Christmas Eve in London in 1894, where Sherlock Holmes, “the world’s greatest detective” who can solve any crime with his astute powers of observation, and remarkable memory to recall even the most minute of details, is asked to investigate the questionable death of his friend, Ebenezer Scrooge.

Without revealing the ending, suffice it to say that the finale is fabulous. Cheers to the holidays!

Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts! Happy Holidays!

Cast

Creative Team

Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts!

A Sherlock Carol Schedule: December 19^th at 7:00 pm, December 20^th at 7:00 pm, December 21 at 7:00 pm, December 22 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, and December 23 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Runtime is 108 minutes including an intermission.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, please call the Box Office at +1-203-227-4177, email them at boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org, or visit the website at https://tickets.westportplayhouse.org/events.

Special Dinner & A Show: “Looking for the perfect pre-show dining spot? Gabriele’s Italian Steakhouse is located on the Playhouse campus and is offering a special $79 menu for First Lady of Song: Cherise Coaches sings Ella Fitzgerald ticketholders! Click here to view the menu and pricing, then call Gabriele’s at (203) 454-4922 to make your reservation. Be sure to tell them you are attending the show to access the exclusive menu and price!”

A Sampling of Westport Country Playhouse’s Upcoming Performances Schedule

About the Westport Country Playhouse

“Founded in 1931, the mission of Westport Country Playhouse is to enrich, enlighten, and engage the community through the power of professionally produced theater of the highest caliber and the welcoming experience of the Playhouse campus. The not-for-profit Playhouse provides this experience in multiple ways by offering live theater experiences of the highest quality, under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos; educational and community engagement events to further explore the work on stage; the New Works Initiative, a program dedicated to the discovery, development, and production of new live theatrical works; special performances and programs for students and teachers with extensive curriculum support material; Script in Hand play readings to deepen relationships with audiences and artists; the renowned Woodward Internship Program during the summer months for aspiring theater professionals; Family Festivities presentations to delight young and old alike and to promote reading through live theater; and the beautiful and historic Playhouse campus open for enjoyment and community events year-round.”

“The mission of Westport Country Playhouse is to enrich, enlighten, and engage the community through the power of professionally produced theater worth talking about and the welcoming experience of the Playhouse campus. The not-for-profit Playhouse provides this experience in multiple ways by offering live theater experiences of the highest quality, under the artistic direction of Mark Shanahan; educational and community engagement events to further explore the work on stage; the New Works Initiative, a program dedicated to the discovery, development, and production of new live theatrical works; special performances and programs for students and teachers with extensive curriculum support material; Script in Hand play readings to deepen relationships with audiences and artists; the renowned Woodward Internship Program during the summer months for aspiring theater professionals; Family Festivities presentations to delight young and old alike and to promote reading through live theater; youth performance training through Broadway Method Academy, Westport Country Playhouse’s resident conservatory program; and the beautiful and historic Playhouse campus open for enjoyment and community events year-round.”

The Westport Country Playhouse, named as “Theatre Company of the Year” in December 2013 by The Wall Street Journal, opened on June 29, 1931, in a transformed 1835 cow barn, which has, and continues to attract, a “who’s who” of prominent actors.

Looking at the framed posters of the past shows lining the lobby walls is like entering an encyclopedia of the arts. A few of the renowned actors who have appeared on the stage there include Ethyl Barrymore, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson, Don Ameche, Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy, Jane Fonda, Danny Aiello, Blythe Danner, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Dreyfus, Whoopi Goldberg, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Lynn Redgrave, Gene Wilder, and Westport residents Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman.

Westport Country Playhouse
25 Powers Court
Westport, Connecticut 06880
United States
Box Office: +1-203-227-4177
Toll-Free: 1-888-927-7529
Website: www.WestportPlayhouse.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestportCountryPlayhouse
Instagram: www.instagram.com/wcplayhouse
Twitter: @wcplayhouse

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