Jason Schaad and Tom Akers in “A Sherlock Carol" at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre -- November 13 through 23.
Thursday, November 13, through Sunday, November 23
Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, 600 Robinson Drive, Geneseo IL
Hailed by the New York Times as "a clever, crowd-pleasing holiday comedy" and by DC Metro Arts as "an entertaining new play filled with thrills, chills, and laughs," author Mark Shanahan's mystery-comedy mash-up A Sherlock Carol makes its area debut at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre November 13 through 23, TheatreMania adding to the raves by calling the show "joyful, playful, and clever – and that joy transfers to the audience."
Shanahan's critically acclaimed A Sherlock Carol blends two beloved classic tales into one thrilling new mystery loaded with laughs. In the play, Holmes' longtime adversary Moriarty is dead, and Sherlock himself is a haunted man. Yet when a grown-up Tiny Tim asks Holmes to investigate the peculiar death of Ebenezer Scrooge, history's greatest detective must use his tools of deduction to get to the bottom of the crime. It is a dark and treacherous Christmas Eve, however, and once again the holiday is haunted by the spirits of the past, present, and future. In A Sherlock Carol, audiences are invited to reunite with the unforgettable Charles Dickens and Si Arthur Conan Doyle characters they've loved, all of them brought together in a witty tale of intrigue and suspense, peppered with a holiday helping of Christmas cheer.
Directing A Sherlock Carol's area debut is longtime Richmond Hill helmer Joe DePauw, whose previous comedies for the venue have included The Money in Uncle George's Suitcase, Penny for Your Thoughts, and Missing Link. Elizabeth Shaffer serves as the production's stage manager, with other members of DePauw's creative team including stage crew Sally Hamer, set builders Mike and Jim Skiles, costume designer Suzanne Rakestraw, lighting and sound designer Jennifer Kingry, and light and sound operator Dana Skiles. Respectively portraying the iconic Sherlock Holmes and Ebeneezer Scrooge are Richmond Hill veterans Tom Akers (Laura) and Glenn Kluge (Of Mice & Men), while four additional talents – Samuel Carrington, Jason Schaad, Jackie Skiles, and Amanda Wilson – collectively play the other many characters in this Dickens/Doyle universe.
A Sherlock Carol will be presented in Geneseo's Barn Theatre November 13 through 23, with performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Admission is $12, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)944-2244 and visiting RHPlayers.com.
