‘A Sherlock Carol’ is a grand, glorious and thrilling new mystery

 A new twist on a seasonal classic cast a magical and mystical spell on the opening night of “A Sherlock Carol” at Williamston Theatre.

The play finds a deceased Ebenezer Scrooge calling upon his friend Sherlock Holmes to stop grieving the death of his archenemy, Moriarty. Scrooge’s ghost urges Holmes to get out of his chair and get back to sleuthing because the world still needs his skill at solving crimes.

Just as the once-skinflint Scrooge made mankind his business after encountering a selection of ghosts, Holmes is about to be haunted out of his depression in a most delightful and heartwarming way.

With a cast of just six, this production is remarkable for the interplay among a dozen or more characters, both living and dead. Two experienced mid-Michigan thespians play the leading roles: John Lepard as the world’s foremost consulting detective, and John Seibert as the spirit of reformed miser Scrooge and a ghostly voice.

Simple changes in costume, facial hair and head covering allow the other four cast members to play multiple roles. Especially brilliant is the way they pull off the different mannerisms and distinct dialects of the characters.

Hallie Bee Bard, a returnee to the Williamston stage, is the Countess of Morcar, Martha Cratchit, Abigail Fezziwig and Watson’s brave and elegant wife, Mary Morstan, along with bits as a caroler and an elderly woman.

Newcomer Samantha Dobrowolski is, believe it or not, the mustachioed Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard, the Scottish tavernkeeper Mrs. Windigate, Scrooge’s grandniece Fannie Gardner and 13-year-old Emma Wiggins.

Patrick Loos, who played in last year’s “A Very Williamston Christmas,” treads the floor as Holmes’ loyal friend Dr. Watson, as well as Scrooge’s housekeeper Mrs. Dilber, Irish candlemaker Henry Burke and Old Joe’s tavern owner Joe Brackenridge.

Another newcomer, Karam Mawazini, is Dr. Timothy Cratchit, all grown up but still addressed by many as Tiny Tim. But that’s not all. He also plays Constable Bradstreet, a seemingly upstanding Scotland Yarder; nervous and wiry Ralph Fezziwig (engaged to Fannie); and easily irritated hotel manager Mr. Topper.

Put them all together, and you have a grand, glorious and thrilling new mystery surrounding the untimely — or is it timely? — death of the good-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge, whose last years were full of charity and love of mankind. His riches provide for Tiny Tim’s recovery from childhood ailments and later fund a children’s hospital headed by Dr. Cratchit.

It is Tiny Tim’s wish for justice, along with a boost from Scrooge and some helpful spirits, that prompts Holmes to finally agree to apply his superb detective skills to find a missing will and discover who killed Mr. Scrooge and made off with a valuable gem. And what about the missing Christmas goose?

This account wouldn’t be complete without bestowing praise on the two Michigan State University students, Dobrowolski and Mawazini, in their first outing at Williamston. MSU Professor Rob Roznowski is the show’s director. Hurrah for the staging, lighting and sound. Well done, all!

Especially entertaining and chuckle-eliciting is the not-so-subtle way playwright Mark Shanahan weaves some of the most familiar expressions from Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories into the script: “Bah, humbug!” “The game is afoot.” “God bless us, everyone.” “Elementary, my dear Watson.” And just plain “Bah!”