The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes
This is the fifth installment of the Watch With Me: Musicals series where we watch/listen to a musical, talk about what we like, don’t like, characters, audition songs, analysis, best songs, worst songs, everything! Think of it as a book club for musicals! Click here to find out more and get involved, everybody is welcome!
“This hilarious musical whodunit was a smash hit on Broadway where it received rave reviews. Loosely based on Charles Dickens’ famous unfinished novel, it takes audience participation to new heights by letting them directly effect the play’s outcome by voting for whomever they think murdered the unfortunate young Edwin Drood. Presented as a ‘first night performance by The Music Hall Royale’, a troupe of decidedly hammy Victorian actors, this affectionate recreation of a bygone theatrical age is certain to prove an enormous hit with everyone. The witty and tuneful score contains such numbers as “There You Are”, “Moonfall”, Perfect Strangers" and “Off To The Races.” (source)
Won the Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Leading Actor (George Rose), Best Direction of a Musical (Wilford Leach), and eight Drama Desk Awards.
Video: (Broadway production) (1986 Tony Performance) (2013 Tony Show Clips)
Audio: (1. There You Are) (2. A Man Could Go Quite Mad) (3. Two Kinsmen) (4. Moonfall) (5. Moonfall Quartet) (6. The Wages of Sin) (7. Jasper’s Vision) (8. Ceylon/A British Subject) (11. Both Sides of the Coin) (12. Perfect Strangers) (13. No Good Can Come from Bad) (14. Never the Luck) (15. The Name of Love/Moonfall) (16. An English Music Hall) (17. Settling Up the Score) (18. Off to the Races) (19. Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead) (20. Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead - Reprise) (21. The Garden Path to Hell) (22. Out on a Limerick) (23. Jasper’s Confession) (23. Rosa’s Confession) (23. Neville’s Confession) (23. Durdle’s Confession) (23. Bazzard’s Confession) (23. Puffer’s Confession) (23. Crisparkle’s Confession) (23. Helena’s Confession) (24. Perfect Strangers - Reprise) (25. The Writing on the Wall)
As you probably noticed, with the many “track 23″ listings, I’ve included each of the confessions! Multiple endings, multiple tracks!
Production Photos (All from Roundabout Theatre production): (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18)
(19) (20) (21) (22) (23)
Enjoy! Give it a listen/watch and share your thoughts under the tag #wwmmusicals before next Friday, and I will do the same! If you already know the musical, I still encourage you to post your thoughts on it. Some things to get your mind going: Do you like the musical or not? Why? Favorite songs? Favorite lines? Least favorite songs? Are there any roles for you? Potential audition songs? How much would you LOVE to see it on Broadway! Have you seen it before? Perhaps you want to link a recording from another actor you love performing in the show or covering a song? What do you think of the composer? Why do you think it’s important? And whatever else you may find interesting about it! Get your posts up, and we’ll get the conversation rolling!
The various endings/murderers are listed under the cut!
