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The Mystery of Edwin Drood
A Solve-It-Yourself Musical Mystery
A Musical by Rupert Holmes
Based on an unfinished Charles Dickens Novel
Directed & Choreographed by Kevin Bellie
Musical direction by Peter Storms
Produced by Noble Fool Theatricals
At Pheasant Run Resport
4501 E. Main St.
St. Charles, IL
Call 630-584-6342, tickets $27 - $38
Thursdays & Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 pm
Sundays at 2 pm
Special Thursday matinees at 2 pm Feb. 21 & Mar. 6
Running time is 2 hours, 45 minutes with intermission
Through April 12, 2008
Hilarious fun English musical hall show unfolds at Noble Fool Theatricals
Charles Dickens died before finishing his mystery, Drood. Rupert Holmes designed a satirical spoof of Victorian music halls (similar to American vaudeville) using Dickens’ unfinished mystery. Filled with terrific comedy including a play-within-a-play motif, lots of zany comedy, physical antics and an assortment of situation songs, ringing ballads and several melodic showstoppers, Drood, presents as a comic treat. The audience participation and the crazy antics of the MC or Chairman (Richard Marlatt) make for a most enjoyable musical comedy treat. We meet the wacky thespians as they mug and ham their way into our hearts through whimsy and fine singing.
The light-hearted musical mystery opens with a funny Victorian music hall troupe singing “There You Are” as the Chairman introduces his players and the characters they portray in their version of Drood. As the story unfolds, we learn that John Jasper (Kenneth Kendall combining his excellent vocals with his fine comic skills) the “Jekyll-and-Hyde” choirmaster, is madly in love with Rosa Bud (the golden voiced Julie Bayer), one of his singing students. She is engaged to Jasper’s nephew, Edwin Drood (Cat Davis). When Drood is discovered missing, suspicions surface as to whether Drood has been murdered. If so who did it? Dickens never finished the story, so playwright/composer Rupert Holmes has the troupe ask the audience for help. Each night the audience decides the ending by voting as to who is the killer.The result of this audience participation is infectious. The clues are presented in funny, over-the-top performances filled with song and dance with large doses of cornball humor.
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Director Kevin Bellie has his ensemble at a frantic pace rolling out the plot on Bob Knuth’s old style set complete with painted drops. Bellie’s choreography produced excellent movement that erupted into several big dance numbers with “Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead” being a true crowd pleaser. Julie Bayer’s (Rosa Bud) knock out voice, Anita Hoffman’s unabashed comic turns as Princess Puffer together with Richard Marlatt’s crude, yet wildly pleasing Chairman led the way. Seth Lieber, Jonathan Lynch, Cat Davis, David Mendes, Darci Nalepa, Tiffany Topol and Tom Weber each had their moments to shine. The obvious fun the cast is having sure rubs off on the audience. There is nothing quite like a high energy, light hearted musical comedy mystery ripe with unpredictable twists and loads of zany antics. You’ll be fully engaged with Drood.
Act one develops slowly and could use a judicious trim—but stay with Drood because once ignited, it explodes with rollicking good times. Drood is a throw-back show that is an ode to old-time Victorian British working class shows. It won five 1986 Tony Awards including “Best Musical & Best Score. It played 608 performances on Broadway. Noble Fool Theatricals’ production soars.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2008
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