Summary
Both the novel mitmflcal are set in the fictional cathedral townofCloisterham, where [Edwin Drood], a cocky young man engaged since childhood to orphan Rosa Bud, is preparing to take a job in Egypt Drood's twisted young uncle, John Jasper, the cathedral choinnaster, hides a nasty opium habit; he's also obsessed with Rosa Bud. who is his student. Both uncle and nephew are unnerved by the arrival of twins Neville and Helena Landless from Ceylon, and when hotheaded Neville also shows an interest in the comely Rosa Bud, passions begin to boil over. Added to the mysterious doings are disreputable Princess Puffer, proprietress of an opium den: the Rev. Mr. Crisparkle; and DurdJes, a drunken stonecutter.
In deference to English pantomime tradition, the young Edwin Drood is played by a woman. Honey- voiced Annmarie Jackson is a spunky Drood and sufficiently imperious as Alice Nutting, the actress who portrays him. As Princess Puffer, a role originally played by jazz diva Geo Lane, Jodie Baum embraces the style of English music hall. While her introductory song, 'The Wages of Sin," is a brassy anthem to the wayward life, Baum captures the dual nature of Dnxxt, performing the second act's "Garden Path to Hell" with equal parts me and lusty enthusiasm.As the Chairman, Alec Barbour is appealing, but he doesn't quite develop the easy relationship with the audience that characterizes the musical hall spirit The secondary characters acquit themselves well. Jimmy Wächter does a nice showbizzy turn as the under-used actor Philip Bax and his Dnxxl role, the hastily introduced Bazzard. Justin Bird's Durdles, perfonning under an impressive layer of dirt, honors music hall humor as he introduces the Deputy, played by Mohammed Ali Seraji, as his protege (pronounced "proteej"). Happily, the small but sturdy chorus is properly enthusiastic, and that sense of energy is the key to enjoying Wit's End's The Mystery of Edwin Drood.See the full content of this document
Extract
Drood Looks Like a Lady
Drood Looks Like a Lady
Wit's End enjoys fun casting for the interactive musical whodunit Edwin DroodCharles Dickeas' 1870 The Mystery of Edwin Dn>oil, written in installments for serial publication, was shaping up to be a crackling murder mystery when the most unexpected death oc...See the full content of this document
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