I am so jealous! Helena and Neville as the lovers are the only ending I want to see that I haven't managed to catch! I sadly can't justify going anymore to attempt it but maybe someone will make it possible to "see" it anyway.
The really sweet thing about it is how much they DON'T want to kiss each other, but then at the end, after the song is over, Andy dips Jessie and kisses her. Cutest.
Oh, and after the matinee yesterday a few members of the cast participated in a talkback with the audience, they said that between all 3 things voted on by the audience there are 326 different endings!!! Guess this thread will be able to go on for quite a bit! Just thought this would be an interesting fact for you Drood fans
I saw the show today. I did miss Stephanie's spark in the book scenes, but Janine's "writing on the wall" was as good as I could have hoped for. I thought that last note sounded glorious!
Datcharey: Bazzard Murderer: Chrisparkle! Lovers: Helena and Deputy
The lovers song was great, it seemed like the whole cast was losing it with the audience. I was so glad Gregg Edelman got picked as the murderer. He was on fire today and might have been my all around favorite cast member.
Has anyone noticed if certain crowds vote certain ways? I saw the show last month on a Sunday and again on the 23rd with a very similar out come (only difference was Helena [which i am pretty much sure had a big part to do with my obnoxious cat calling]).
I find it so odd that Helena is Datchery so often it seems! I've seen her do it only once myself, but it seems so set up in the script for it to be Bazzard, and I believe it was mentioned earlier in the thread that in the original production, he was chosen like 80% of the time.
Bwaybaby18, re: certain crowds, I'm not sure about that. I did notice that the most "unusual" endings that I saw (Neville as the murderer, separate time Neville/Puffer as the lovers) were crowds that were not really theatre crowds, lot of blue haired matinee ladies, students, that kind of thing. I dunno if that's related or at all playing a part though.
^ Well, I've seen the show 7 times now. The first time I went was the only time I had Helena as Datchery. The next 5 times it was Bazzard, and the final time it was Rosa.
I don't know how it was done in the original, but it seems what they say before Bazzard the whole why else is he in the book thing, convinces a lot of people that he is Datchery.
Well, I have seen the show 7 times as well...(Crazy, I know....) and Helena has been Datchery 4 out of the 7 times I saw it.
Bazzard should easily be Datchery almost every time, as Kelly2 mentioned, the author is almost telling us to vote for him. However, early in Act One, there is a hint/mention of Helena disguised as a boy highlighted by a musical sting/chime that Jessie Mueller brilliantly uses to the maximum effect. Maybe the audiences are really paying attention to detail. That, and I think Ms. Mueller is very likable and funny from the instant she steps on stage, so people like her and root for her to do more in the show.
As for the murderer outcomes, if Rosa ends up being voted for the night before, she will most likely not be the murderer for the performance directly after...I feel like if a character is very popular, and they have a number from 4 and up, they have a really good chance of being the murderer, especially if the audience is not as theatre-savvy.
Crisparkle has a great final statement that always goes over well....so does Helena and Rosa.
So jealous you got to see Rosa as Datchery. I wonder how THAT happened, and how do we get it to happen more often?!?!?!!
Oh man, that makes me really irrationally happy because it means if you use my math to predict the results, you would've been right about 4 of the 5 known outcomes for this week.
Datchery: Bazzard Murderer: Helena Landless Lovers: Puffer and Durdles (Same line up as opening night)
Wow! What an afternoon of theater. I tried to to read too much about the show, but I did watch the promo video and ended up reading the NYTimes review, but it was still like watching from a clean slate, which I usually do not do. This whole cast is absolutely amazing, and I would honestly watch any of them do the endings because they are all that talented. Had not experienced Jessie Mueller as a performer before, but I am definitely a fan!! She delivered throughout the whole show and I could barely take my eyes off of her. Glad she was voted murderer because her confession was great. Besty Wolfe was fantastic and hilarious, and Moonfall was chill-inducing. Andy Karl was a riot, but he did look disappointed when he wasn't voted for anything. I voted for him as the male lover as I thought more would, but Deputy had family in the audience, so he got a loud reaction along with Durdles, then there was a tie-breaker and it was about even, so Jim Norton just chose Durdles. Rob Creighton is truly a great actor, and he and Chita gave quite a Perfect Strangers reprise. Chita was on fire for this show! I know some have said that she has been vocally off, but she sounded fine even though she spoke-sung most of it. Didn't enjoy Peter Benson at first, but he really grew on me, especially during Out on a Limerick as Bazzard. Will Chase, IMO, gave a terrific performance! I thought it was well manicured, yes, but also very effective. Interesting how the ensemble is sort of divided up into two male dancers (Coffman and Sciotto), two male singers (Walton and Plachy), two female dancers (Schmidt and Lewis), two female singers (Cimmet and DiVita). I would love to see Eric Sciotto on for either Neville or Jasper at some point.
Stephanie J. Block: wow, can she sing a song. I was surprised the actual role of Drood was as small as it is! Was expecting her to carry the show being in the title role, but I guess I also didn't expect the murder to be in the first act. She has such a charm to her and an incredible presence.
The characters and performances given made the afternoon enjoyable and fully worth the price of admission! I'd love to go back soon.
I'm taking a friend this week for her birthday, I really hope we catch a good one, though IMO there are no bad endings.
What do you guys think is the best ending for someone who's never seen it before? My first thought is probably Rosa as the murderer, but then again I think Helena or Neville would be fun too.
It is interactive at times. I almost don't to say too much as the surprise aspects are as always part of the magic of theater. I finally saw it today and it is great theater. Here's how we voted:
Bea Arthur Nude Sells For Nearly $2 Million At Auction
Drama Desk Award Winners - MATILDA, VANYA AND SONIA, PIPPIN, VIRGINIA WOOLF & More!
Gyllenhaal, Pine in Talks to Join INTO THE WOODS Movie?
John Bantay Talks to Richard Jay-Alexander About Musical Mondays Farewell
BWW TV Exclusive: Prince, Lewis & More Remember Kevin Gray
Quotables & Performances from Last Night's Edition of THE VOICE!
VIDEO: Full Trailer for THE WOLVERINE Released!
Rooney Mara is the Face for New Calvin Klein Scent
VIDEO: Beyonce Unveils 'Mrs. Carter Show' Video Diary
Google Unveils Chrome 27, Featuring Faster Page Loads & More
BWW Blog: Leah Edwards - Practice. Perform. Repeat
BWW Reviews: Blue Lapis Light's Encore Engagement of HEAVEN-EARTH-ONE is Heavenly
VIDEO: Must Watch - Mel Brooks AMERICAN MASTERS on PBS May 20!
joined:1/5/07
Posted: 12/22/12 at 11:56pm