In celebration of the bicentenary year of one of our greatest authors, the Tony Award winning musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood returns to London this Summer. Charles Dickens’ unfinished final novel is brought raucously to life through the great British traditions of music hall and pantomime, with a final audience vote to determine the ending of this great literary curiosity!
To mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth, Rupert Holmes' TonyAward-winning 1986 musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood arrives at the Arts Theatre for a limited four-week run after a successful revival at the Landor Theatre.
Based on the final, unfinished novel by the author, the play within a play sees a music hall cast stage a production of Edwin Drood, ‘a musical with dramatic interludes’. Drood vanishes, but why? Is he dead, and who was it? There are many options, a jilted lover of his fiancée, a strange and volatile man from a foreign land or even the priest. No-one knows until audience gets involved to decide who died and whodunit.
With song-sheets in hand we're invited to join in the songs before the play even begins. This kick-starts a raucous atmosphere that's carried throughout by the energetic cast, under the assured direction of Matthew Gould. After the commencement of the play the songs are flawless, the choreography sharp and the staging, under a full music hall proscenium, is sumptuous.
Wendi Peters (best known as Coronation Street’s Cilla Battersby-Brown) illustrates her singing prowess, but is just one member of a strong company that barely put a foot wrong. Daniel Robinson’s John Jasper exudes energy and treads the right line between lovable actor (Mr Clive Paget) and the slightly unhinged Jasper who lusts after his nephew's betrothed, Miss Rosa Bud.
With girls playing boys, tableaux, song, dance and the odd "boo hiss" from the audience, this is pure pantomime in keeping with the production's music hall theme. But there is also depth to the story and a complexity of plot. The songs are polished and the acting is melodramatic and humorous without being ridiculous.
The ongoing audience participation (we get to vote for the ending) keeps the atmosphere alive – and drinks from the bar are allowed into the theatre meaning there's little chance for anyone to be allowed not to have fun. There are laughs aplenty and it's a knee-slapping good time. Whether it’s quite the story Dickens envisioned is another matter entirely...
The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the Arts Theatre- Explores Charles Dickens unfinished final novel, who died half way through writing it. We are introduced to members of the 'Theatre Royale', by an excellent, traditional Chairman (Denis Delahunt), hosting a music hall style rendition of the story. Pre show opening songs, such as 'Champagne Charlie', cleverly transforms the Arts Theatre into a 19th century Music Hall, buzzing with audience participation (song sheets provided) stiffened by cast members in the auditorium, successfully encouraging people to join in. The Musical Play then begins and the plot develops quickly, amidst good songs, sung well by various characters. The plot works through the murder (or was it)? The first act needs time to develop because of the depth of Dickens characterisation. Possible motives are presented for each suspect- obvious clues are amusingly emphasised, then the audience is asked to vote, after passionate pleadings from each suspect to vote for Them! The vote scene is hilarious, and there is much wit and funny lines throughout. Most impressive is the combined strength of the cast; each member oozing proficiency in clarity, expression and timbre. The songs provide great variety, some being used cleverly to develop character, interspersed with gusty choruses from 'the entire company'- every movement is choreographed with panache and fine detail. Music is voraciously led from the electric piano by James Cleeve, including flute, clarinet, percussion, trumpet and cello, (I couldn't discern a single wrong note)! Costumes and scenery are very impressive. Each performer shows professional sparkle and excellence, but the extra gush and tingle factor came for me as Wendi Peters powerfully and reliably let rip from the very first note of 'Don't Quit While You're Ahead', right up to the end of the show, inspiring those around her superbly, with a stirringly excellent finale, she is now, historically, a Music Hall Star! Finally, the serious strands of this Dickensian feast are subtly brought together in 'The Writing On The Wall' by Edwin Drood (Natalie Day), sung with great feeling and emotion. Dickens was himself a successful entertainer, so would have loved this excellent performance - he would also have savoured the argument, mystery and stimulation of debate, and would have adored the excitement in the audience. This novel is well documented as the most discussed of all, and for good reason. The production has grown tremendously beyond the Landor, and I did write that I believed it should get to the West End- the obvious courage, determination and graft that has gone into 'Drood' has paid off splendidly. The intimate, comfortable Arts Theatre, is a delightful venue. Does more await? Certainly it is good enough! The timing is right, celebrating 200 years of the great man. In any event, again, congratulations to the cast, production team and Director Matthew Gould. - charlesdickenslondon
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