A play with the perfect end: ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’

Virginia Galvez / Reporter

Elon students will showcase the both dynamic and exciting “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” Feb. 12-15 in McCrary Theatre.

Set in London’s famous theatrical venue The Music Hall Royale, this play combines music with dramatic parody based on the novel “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” by Charles Dickens.

There is one slight catch - Dickens died before the completion of the novel, so the ending is decided by the audience through “voting” for their favorite solution. Rupert Holmes, who won Tony Awards for writing the book, music and lyrics of “Drood,” adapted this unfinished piece into a both amusing and complex production, demanding of both the actors’ and audience’s contributions.

When choosing this show, director Linda Sabo was fascinated by the score and its combination of classical singing with a Gilbert and Sullivan influence.

Another reason for choosing this show, according to Sabo, was because of the acting style.

Using an acting style known as melodrama, this play joins melody and drama into what would be considered a “soap opera” performance in today’s terms, due to the use of musical chords to emphasize important, extremely dramatic moments in the production.

In addition to this musically influenced drama, the actors use their body movements to illustrate different emotions and moods.

While this was considered extremely popular during the 1800s in London, these overly induced gestures and body positions add an element of comedy to the show.

While this production has many entertaining aspects, it does not lack complexity. Because this play is based on a “play within a play,” the story revolves around the performance the characters are putting on, as well as their personal lives and the murder of Edwin Drood.

The audience is asked to not only participate in the ending by voting on their favorite solution but by also paying close attention to the great deal of movement of the Music Hall Actor personas as well as the characters roles in the melodrama.

While there are at least seven different scenarios involving who may have murdered Drood, the audience is asked to pick between these alternate endings, incorporating not only an exciting sense of crowd participation, but the presentational acting style of the time period.

In terms of a vision for this show, this production takes an interesting historical look at British music hall entertainment, mirroring the influence of Dickens’ time period through the nostalgic sense of audience participation and relationship with the actors.

Sabo says that in addition to this historical glimpse at the different acting styles, she wanted a challenge for the actors involved.

With Elon students like Andrew Frace as The Chairman, Rob Marnell as John Jasper, John Kernodle as The Reverend Mr. Crisparkle, Brandon Talley and Ashley Hunter as the Landless twins and Kelsey Tucker as Edwin Drood, these leads are nothing short of talented.

While these particular students demonstrate fine acting, it is the 26 member cast that brings this melodramatic slapstick comedy to life.

Through challenging acting roles and techniques, these actors throw themselves into a stimulating range of ballet to showbiz production numbers and amazing period costumes that really make this “play within a play” believable.

Along with an amazing set design by Dale Becherer, the audience is transported from the different shifts in the production through various lighting effects, making it hard not to get involved.

As if the acting talent, complex dance sequences, intricate set design and costume were not enough to make you want to come to this show, the aspect of audience participation and comedy should be more than ample reason.

Kristen Sween / Photographer

The audience is one of the primary players in Charles Dickens’ “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” Pictured above are the other primary players from left to right: Kim Shaw, Todd Beasley, Meris Burton, Kenneth Handler, Preston Ellis, Amanda Taylor, Perry Medlin, Trista Duval, and Cara Antosca.