San Jose Stage's production of Mark Shanahan's mashup delight A Sherlock Carol is a sharp entry into the Bay Area's Christmas canon, pulled together with a surefire cast executing a dexterous, physical staging.
Even some encouragement from the loyal Dr. Watson isn't enough to coax the greatness out of Holmes. But the investigative powers required of a gumshoe the level that Holmes offers is just too tempting to turn down.
After a first act in which there are a few too many lulls, the second act tightens up mightily, when most of the payoffs are teed up and delivered.
Director Kenneth Kelleher is terrific at staging a classic, and the two specific stories to meld here play to his tableau-ish, minimalist strengths.
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