Theater Review: 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' at Goodspeed Musicals

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

Goodspeed Musicals’s 2024 season opened with a delightful production of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” a unique musical by Rupert Holmes. The Goodspeed production is directed by Rob Ruggiero, the artistic director of TheaterWorks Hartford.

This show is a one-of-a-kind production, based on an unfinished Charles Dickens’ mystery. Dickens passed away when he was only halfway through the manuscript, and Holmes took advantage of the opportunity.

Holmes, who wrote the book, the music, the lyrics, and the full orchestrations, shifted the tone of the show to be more joyful and playful than the somber novel. He was also inspired to create an unexpected musical, one that had never been seen on Broadway before, in which the audience is allowed to choose the ending by a vote count.

In his director’s notes, Ruggiero also writes that the show provides a “marvelous escape,” pointing out that the script “invites the performers to be bold, funny and daring–and because your relationship with the actors feels connected and familiar, you feel an investment” that you don’t often feel in “making this happen and how it all turns out.”

The result is truly more than a “whodunit,” a charming musical that engages the audience even before the curtain rises. Set in an English Music Hall, the musical numbers begin with the entire company welcoming the audience with “There You Are,” and the wild ride begins.

Ruggiero assures the audience the voting is completely authentic, “and the cast has rehearsed all the possible scenarios to be ready for where the audience wants the story to go,” making each performance truly unique. The performers clearly have fun with “the freedom in storytelling” inherent in this script, what the director calls “a love letter to audiences,” but it certainly places heavier demands on the leading actors that I am not sure that I could master.

The all-Equity cast is led by Lenny Wolpe, who returns to Goodspeed in the role of the Chairman of the Music Hall Royale, Mr. William Cartwright. His character directs/narrates much of the action, often directly addressing the audience, and adding lots of comedy, much of it improvised.

In his Goodspeed debut, Paul Adam Schaefer broadly plays the role of the two-sided leading man, Mr. Clive Page, playing the role of John Jasper. Schaefer recently was in the closing cast of the iconic “Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway.

Mamie Parris returns to Goodspeed to portray Miss Alice Nutting, a female playing the role of the title character. Parris invites her fans to follow her Bell’s Palsy journey on social media.
In her Goodspeed debut, Riley Noland, an actress originally from Honolulu, shows off a strong soprano singing voice in the role of Miss Deirdre Peregrine, the actress playing Rosa Bud.
Jetta Juriansz makes her Goodspeed debut as the actress Miss Janet Conover, who covers the role of Helena Landless.

Paul Slade Smith, a Connecticut native making his Goodspeed debut, has so much comedic charm in the role of Cedric Moncrieffe, who plays Reverend Crisparkle. Levin Valayil is the actor Victor Brinstead, who plays Helena’s twin Neville.

Broadway veteran Liz McCartney shines in the role of the actress Angela Prysock, who plays the character of Princess (“Wages of Sin”) Puffer. David Beach plays Mr. Nick Cricker, who in turn plays Durdles. Beach, who appeared on Broadway in “Something Rotten,” is the alternate for the role of the Chairman.

Multi-hyphenated, New Jersey based artist Marcus Montgomery plays young Master Nick Cricker, who covers the role of Deputy. Jaime LaVerdiere returns to Goodspeed and makes the most of the role of the actor Phillip Bax, who plays Bazzard and a waiter.

As the citizens of Cloisterham are Benjamin Howes, Jon Cooper, Albert Jennings, Jacqueline Petroccia, Miyuki Miyagi, Jesse Swimm and Natalie Welch.

Choreography by James Gray is rollicking and fun. Gray is currently writing and creating a show with the legendary designer Bob Mackie. Music director Adam Souza can be seen conducting the eight other musicians that are seated on a raised platform across the back of the stage. Sound design by Jay Hilton works for the most part. Jennifer Scapetis-Tycer served as the dialect coach.
Costumes designed by Hunter Kaczorowski are perfect for the time period and well-constructed, with hair and beautiful wig design by Tommy Kurzman (“Mrs. Doubtfire.”)

Because everyone in the audience is asked to vote for the killer, the identity of a mysterious character and the two cast members who become romantically involved, you will be offered an “I Voted” sticker at the exit.

"The Mystery of Edwin Drood" continues through June 2 at The Goodspeed. Get tickets at https://bit.ly/3Us1560

Nancy Sasso Janis voted for Rosa Bud as the murderer on Press Night.