BWW Reviews: Stunningly Staged EDWIN DROOD at Actors Coop

The Mystery of Edwin Drood/book, music & lyrics by Rupert Holmes/directed by Stephen Van Dorn/Actors Coop/through October 26

Charles Dickens' last novel, unfinished at the time of his death in 1870, supplied the story for the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood which won five Tony Awards when it first premiered in 1985. Although it won for Best Book and Best Score, I hardly find either completely satisfying. On the musical side, it's very much like operetta, with pretty singing, but with only one memorable song "Don't Quit While You're Ahead". As far as the book is concerned, it is a lengthy attempt to complete Dickens' story by allowing the audience to have its say...certainly a novel concept in 1985. Was he murdered? Was he in fact alive at the end? You decide! On the positive side, it is creative and very theatrical as a play within a play encouraging grande overplaying by the company of actors, and making it an assuredly fun entertainment. Despite mixed feelings about the play, I cannot but laud the current production at Actors Coop which is magnificently staged by director Stephen Van Dorn, wonderfully choreographed by Julie Hall and with an astounding ensemble... through October 26.

The action is set in 1895 at the Music Hall Royale in London where Mr. William Cartwright serves as interlocutor (Peter Allen Vogt), introducing the various actors and setting the scene for the story of Drood. Typical in vaudeville fashion, there are lots of quick setups, comical asides, characters popping in and out of side panels, and raucous demeanor from pretty much everyone concerned except maybe for Miss Deirdre Peregrine/Rosa Bud (Eva Abramian) the sweet refined fiancee of Drood (Catherine Gray). Drood's actress name is Miss Alice Nutting, and she is later disguised as Dick Datchery. Drood is a woman dressed as a boy, which in those times - since Shakespeare - was fairly common, so it means nothing in terms of denouement. There is Mr. Clive Paget/John Jasper (Craig McEldowney), respected choirmaster and Drood's devious uncle, who passes out in opium dens, making him the most logical suspect in the murder of Drood...if in fact he was murdered. Jasper is in love with Rosa Bud and would want Drood out of the way. Then there are twins Neville Landless/ actor Mr. Victor Grinstead (Brandon Parrish) who also has eyes for the unwilling Drood and his sister Helena Landless/actress Miss Janet Conover (Selah Victor), villainous seeming foreigners who look as if they would sell their own mother to turn a profit. We must also not forget The Princess Puffer/actress Miss Angela Prysock (Gina D'Acciaro), a domineering and wanton woman who has plenty of dirt to tell about Jasper and his nightly visits to the opium den. The underworld of Victorian England was deliciously described by Dickens, and Holmes spares nothing in bringing all of these characters to vibrant life, even if they seem big, over.the.top caricatures at times. It's all for the satire of the period and for the sheer entertainment of the musical play.

The entire cast is outstanding with Van Dorn's circular staging just right for the ambiance and intimacy of the piece. Actors dressed in character greet the audience outside the theatre and continue to chat with them in their seats before the show begins. They are on and off the stage making entrances and exits through the audience, which is set up in the three quarter. Vogt steals the day as Cartwright, never missing a beat, having a ball with the audience and with every actor onstage. McEldowney is terrific as villain Jasper, singing beautifully and enjoying every nuance of the character. (this role will be played by the director Van Dorn beginning September 26). Gray is delightfully ambiguous a Drood and Abramian quite adorable as Rosa Bud. Victor, always in lovely voice, gives Helena a stunningly intriguing quality and Parrish is deliriously campy as Neville. D'Acciaro is another scene stealer whose broad interpretation is heaven - her duet with Greg Baldwin as the hilarious, drunken Durdles is one of the highlights of the evening, if you're lucky to see them, as the ending changes nightly. Isaac Wade as the seemingly lackluster Bazzard is another delightful standout.

Praise to musical director Jake Anthony, to Mark Henderson and Tim Farmer for their notoriously dark, atmospheric set design, to Vicki Conrad for colorful period costuming and especially to dialect coach Adam Michael Rose, who has everyone speaking properly.

In spite of the flaws of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, I must admit there is something for everyone...fine singing &dancing and a whole lot of eclectic fun, particularly as displayed in this, another high quality, standout production from Actors Coop.

(photo credit: Lindsay Schnebly)

http://actorsco-op.org/wp3/

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