The Mystery of Edwin Drood 1985 - Articles Page 2

Based on Charles Dickens’ final unfinished novel, this hilarious whodunit invites the audience to solve its mystery by choosing the identity of the murderer. The tale is presented as a show-within-a-show, as the Music Hall Royale – a delightfully loony Victorian theatre company – presents Dickens’ brooding mystery. Musical numbers include “Perfect Strangers,” “Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead,” “Off To The Races” and “Moonfall.”



The Mystery of Edwin Drood made its debut in 1985 at the New York Shakespeare Festival, headed by Joseph Papp of the Public Theatre. On December 2, 1985, the show opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre, starring Betty Buckley, Cleo Laine and George Rose. The production won five Tony Awards and ran for 608 performances. In 1987, Drood premiered at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End. On November 13, 2012, a revised version of the show returned to Broadway at Studio 54. Under the direction of Scott Ellis, the revival starred Stephanie J. Block in the title role and featured Chita Rivera, Will Chase, Gregg Edelman, Jim Norton and Betsy Wolfe.