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Christmas Mysteries: A Sherlock Carol @MaryleboneTHLDN

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A mash-up of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol and Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes would seem an unlikely pairing. Yet it provides a surprisingly fun Christmas-themed adventure. These two Victorian tales (albeit separated by about 40 years) provide the basis for an inspired adventure at Christmastime that just also happens to turn out to be a murder mystery as well. With lavish costumes, a few spooky set pieces and some good old-fashioned stage trickery with lights and a lot of smoke machines, it is hard to resist. It returns to the Marylebone Theatre for Christmas after a run there last year.  The premise is that after Holmes sees off the criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty, he is left adrift in London. People thought he was dead, and he might as well be. Disinterested in the misdeeds of other Londoners, Holmes has even given up on his friend Dr Watson. It's almost as if he has become a Scrooge. Or half a Scrooge, moping about shouting, "bah" in respon

Idle Thursday evening locker room gym chatter

Man with no shirt on: Um hey uh do you have any wax?
Distracted Paul: Uh wax?
Man with no shirt on: Yeah you know... for hair...
Paul: I don't have wax... I have clay... Wanna try?
Man with no shirt on: Oh I guess I could give that a shot...
Paul (producing tin): Here, help yourself...
Man with no shirt on: Oh so I just put a bit on my finger...
Paul: And rub it...
Man with no shirt on: Oh... Okay..

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Play ball: Damn Yankees @LandorTheatre

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