DROOD Audience Voting Result Chart

[Michael Bennett]

As DROOD kicks off its revival run, I thought it would be fun to have a thread dedicated exclusively to charting the 'voting' results at each performance.

Let's follow this format. These were the results tonight...

Thursday, October 18: 7:30 PM FINAL DRESS

DATCHERY: Bazzard
MURDERER: Rosa Bud
LOVERS: Helena and Neville Landless (!)

[Wynbish]

While I love Rosa Bud's confession, the choice for the lovers? Well...

[givesmevoice]

The audience at the regional production of Drood I went to also chose Helena and Neville as the lovers, and I seem to recall we got called out on it by cast members. oops.

[Michael Bennett]

They actually get voted the lovers a lot; I think the audience often can't resist the ridiculousness of it. I've directed DROOD a couple of times and while anything truly can happen (especially if the actors 'in character' start really campaigning to sections of the audience) I would say the most frequent choices in my experience are : Rosa, Puffer, or Chrisparkle for the murderer with Bazzard selected as DATCHERY about 85 percent of the time (Helena seems to be the most often second choice). The lovers really are in some ways the most fun because that is always unpredictable and a fun surprise.

[ChairinMain]

I believe the scripted scene between Helena and Neville reads something like: "Neville, I don't suppose you could love me like a brother?" "Helena, I am your brother. Oh well, the audience demands it. You sick English bastards!" I believe everything except this last sentance is a paraphrase.

For future reference...How did you get in to the final dress rehearsal?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Not to threadjack, but was the production good, Michael Bennett?!

[bwayfan7000]

The endings at the final dress were one of the best possible combinations. Helped by the fact that Peter Benson's Bazzard is so endearing, Betsy Wolfe belted her entire confession (which sounded incredible), and Andy Karl and Jessie Mueller broke in the middle of their song because it was all so funny. I hope the last sequence always goes as well as it did tonight.

[givesmevoice]

I really want to vote for Rosa Budd and Jasper as the lovers when I go, to see how that plays out.

[bwayfan7000]

It's actually not a very funny ending, though these two would sing the hell out of it. The Neville/Helena is the funniest. And any combo with Puffer.

[Michael Bennett]

I think the funniest combination I ever witnessed was Deputy (played by a young teenager) and Helena Landless; but the 'funny' in the lovers endings is really more about the actors doing it than anything on the scripted page...

The original production posted a chart in the lobby with the breakdown of the voting results for murderer after each performance. Hopefully they will do that for the revival too.

[LimelightMike]

This is a fantastic thread!

[CATSNYrevival]

For the revival, they should post the results on the website for each performance, maybe with a video message from each resulting character. That would be neat.

[EponineAmneris]

Leave it to Michael Bennett to start a great thread and add some intelligent discussion to the board

This is one of my all time favorite musicals and I am thrilled for this revival!

I will be curious to read it and add to it in mid December

[aasjb4ever]

How was the voting handled? Did you receive a pen and paper with your playbil and then submitted it at intermission?

I'm so curious if it's traditional like that or somehow digital in this current technological era.

[Michael Bennett]

No no- the voting in this production is done as it always is, with members of the ensemble coming out and polling sections of the audience at a specific moment of the show. There are no ballots; it's all done with a show of hands.

Last night it appeared that the cast hadn't been given much tutoring on the process yet; it was a little muddy and unclear what was going on, but obviously this is something that will improve when there is an audience to play too. The ensemble members just need to remember they have to speak loudly and remind the audience they can only vote once!

Other than that Im not going to comment on the production, as its poor form to do so of a final dress, though I'm sure the production team won't mind me praising the entire company who are already quite wonderful and especially good vocally.

[jacobsnchz14]

I really wish I could see this! Hope it extends into the summer!!

[GlindatheGood22]

How are they conducting the voting?

[cardamon]

To get this thread back on track...

Friday, October 19: 8:00 PM

DATCHERY: Bazzard
MURDERER: Rosa Bud
LOVERS: Princess Puffer and Deputy

[CATSNYrevival]

Isn't the Deputy a little kid? A teenager at the most? Chita made out with a teenager??? Does that make her a cougar?

[bwayfan7000]

Puffer-Deputy is a very funny one. With how good Betsy is in this, I think she may end up the murderer most out of any of them.

[ChairinMain]

Wow, wonder what results today's Double Header will produce. For some reason, I haven't decided who I want to vote for yet.

[perfectlymarvelous]

My friend was at the matinee this afternoon and he told me Puffer was the murderer, Helena was the datchery, and Rosa and the gravedigger were the lovers.

[aasjb4ever]

^
Saturday, October 20: 2:00 PM

DATCHERY: Helena
MURDERER: Puffer
LOVERS: Rosa Bud and the Gravedigger

[singtopher]

Gravedigger = durdles

[notzach2]

10/20 evening show
Murder: Neville Landless
Datchery: Helena Landless
Lovers: Princess Puffer and Bazzard

[ChairinMain]

So by my count:

Murders
Rosa Bud: 2
Neville Landless: 1
Helena Landless: 1

Datchery:
Bazzard: 2
Helena Landless: 1

Lovers:
Helena and Neville: 1
Puffer and Bazzard: 1
Puffer and Durdles: 1
Puffer and Deputy: 1