Based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel of the same name, The Mystery of Edwin Drood uses the world of music hall and pantomime as a backdrop, following the exploits of members of the Theatre Royale Music Hall Company as they attempt to complete the unfinished story of Edwin Drood—with some sing-along help from the audience!
What Is the Story of The Mystery of Edwin Drood?
Based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood tells the story of young Edwin Drood, an Englishman whose sudden disappearance throws the fictional townspeople of Cloisterham into a panic. Suspicions arise about who is responsible for Drood’s vanishing, with fingers pointing every which way, including the dashing but villainous John Jasper, Drood's fiancee Rosa Bud, opium den proprietor Princess Puffer and mysterious siblings Helena and Neville Landless. As the investigation pushes forward, everyone who came into contact with Drood joins the lineup of the suspects.
"Anna Louizos's fantastically elaborate sets are perfect... and William Ivey Long's costumes are as luscious-looking as you could possibly desire."
The Wall Street Journal
Terry Teachout
"...there's a charmingly meta quality to Holmes' approach to the material: He imagines the story as a performance of an old-fashioned English music-hall troupe, led by a spirited master of ceremonies played to spry perfection by Jim Norton."
Entertainment Weekly
Thom Geier
"...for a show doing triple duty as musical, choose-your-own-ending mystery and time-travel device, 'Drood' is jolly good fun."
The New York Post
Elisabeth Vincentelli
"Perhaps the best part is watching the first-rate cast have so much fun—Stephanie J. Block shows real comedic power, Jim Norton is having a ball, Chita Rivera is giggly, Gregg Edelman is just silly and Will Chase is over-acting perfectly."
Associated Press
Mark Kennedy
"...this handsome production offers a generous feast for the eyes, trimmed in holiday cheer for an added spritz of currency."
The New York Times
Charles Isherwood