Crisparkle introduces the twins to Drood, who explains his grand scheme to pave a desert highway with stones from the pyramids.
Speaking the latter's name aloud he visibly strikes a chord in Puffer. We next meet Princess Puffer, proprietress of this London opium den, and hear her views on the wicked ways of the world in "THE WAGES OF SIN." Much to our surprise, we discover our choirmaster Jasper taking smoke in one of the beds, struggling with his conscience as he dreams of Drood.and Rosa Bud. Rosa and Helena share girl talk, and then the reprise of "MOONFALL QUARTET." Her hot-tempered brother Neville reveals his attraction to Rosa. Rosa faints from the words of lusty Jasper's song, and fiery spirit Helena Landless tends to her. At Jasper's insistance, Rosa sings the love ballad "MOONFALL." As she nervously embarks on an encore, the Landless twins enter, brother and sister orphans from Ceylon, with the Reverand Crisparkle, in whose care the young man has been entrusted. She is joined by her music tutor, our Jasper, who presents her with a song he has composed for her birthday. In the "Nun's House," the town's seminary for young ladies,we are introduced to the fair Miss Rosa Bud. As they share their confidences in song, we learn that Jasper and Drood are more than "TWO KINSMEN," they are friends. With Jasper, he discusses his impending marriage to Rosa Bud, his misgivings about the arranged pairing, and their plans for subsequent departure for Egypt. We learn that the moustachioed young man is actually being played by Miss Alice Nutting, male impersonator extraordinaire. Respected and calm, he introduces us to his inner world of delusion in the words of "A MAN COULD GO QUITE MAD."Įnter Edwin Drood, nephew of Jasper. In our little town of Cloisterham, we meet choirmaster John Jasper.
The Chairman invites us to be as "vulgar and uncivilized as legally possible" in order for us to really have a good time, but to pay attention, as clues to the mystery's solution appear at every turn! From our Master of Ceremonies, the Chairman, we quickly learn that this is going to be an evening of unusual theater, with the conventional boundaries between audience and performers being subdued if not erased. Cast members come out to us in our seats and briefly explain the role we are about to play.įrom their places throughout the theater, the cast members launch into the opening number, "THERE YOU ARE," welcoming the audience to their show. The setting is London's Music Hall Royale, where, we find, the acting troupe is about to embark on the premiere performance of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." We, the audience, get to play the part of THEIR audience, as well as contribute to the outcome of the evening's performance by our voting for certain options that were not addressed in the Dickens play, due to the author's untimely demise. Opened Decemat the Imperial Theatre and ran for 608 performances. Produced by Joseph Papp for the New York Shakespeare Festival
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