Overview
Synopsis
The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a hilarious, interactive whodunit mystery musical that allows the audience to enter the action and become the ultimate detectives. The show is based on Charles Dickens� unfinished novel of the same name. In small town of Chesterham, England, the young and charming Edwin Drood has been mysteriously murdered. But by whom? His leering romantic rival, John Jasper? The infamous purveyor of opium and vice, Princess Puffer? The mysterious Landless twins, newly arrived from Ceylon? Or someone else even more dastardly and villainous? Dickens passed away before he was able to reveal the culprit. Rupert Holmes� award-winning musical solves this predicament by asking the audience to choose which character is the killer by putting it to a vote. Staged in metatheatrical manner by the Music Hall Royale, a traveling Victorian theatre troupe full of just as many colorful characters as the roles they play, this charming and inventive musical is sure to intrigue and entertain any musical or mystery lover.
All actors play two parts. Each plays an actor of the Music Hall Royale and also the character he or she plays in Music Hall’s production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. In the following breakdowns, the acting company member is listed first, followed by the Drood role. British accents must be employed by all, though variations (Cockney, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, etc.) are permissible, based upon the director’s discretion.
Show Information
- Book
- Rupert Holmes
- Music
- Rupert Holmes
- Lyrics
- Rupert Holmes
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1985
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- england. 1870.
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Ideal For
- Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen, Young Adult, Elderly Characters, Large Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Either Gender |
Alto, Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- *There You Are � Chairman, Company
- A Man Could Go Quite Mad � Jasper
- Two Kinsmen � Drood, Jasper
- Moonfall � Rosa
- Moonfall (Reprise) � Rosa, Alice, Beatrice
- The Wages of Sin � Puffer
- *Opium Den Ballet � Ensemble
- Ceylon / A British Subject � Helena, Neville, Drood, Rosa, Crisparkle, Ensemble
- Both Sides of the Coin � Jasper, Chairman, Ensemble
- Perfect Strangers � Drood and Rosa
- No Good Can Come From Bad � Neville, Rosa, Helena, Drood, Crisparkle, Jasper, Bazzard
- Never the Luck � Bazzard, Ensemble
- *Off to the Races � Chairman, Durdles, Deputy, Company
Act Two
- *An English Music Hall � Chairman, Ensemble
- Setting Up the Score � Datchery, Puffer, Ensemble
- The Name of Love / Moonfall Duet � Rosa, Jasper, Company
- Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead � Puffer, Company
- The Garden Path to Hell � Puffer, Company
- Puffer’s Revelation � Puffer
- Out on a Limerick � Helena, or Bazzard, or Neville, or Crisparkle, or Rosa
- Jasper’s Confession � Jasper
- Murderer’s Confession � Helena, or Bazzard, or Neville, or Crisparkle, or Rosa, or Puffer, or Durdles
- Perfect Strangers (Lovers Reprise) � Rosa, or Helena, or Puffer with Bazzard, or Neville, or Crisparkle, or Durdles, or Sapsea, or Jasper, or Deputy, Company
- The Writing on the Wall � Drood, Company
- Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead (Bows) � Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Sorry! We do not currently have quizzes for this guide.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
