written by Rupert Holmes
directed by Elaine Vogel
Friday May 25th 1990 — Saturday June 23rd 1990

This wildly warm-hearted theatrical experience kicks off when the Music Hall Royale (a hilariously loony Victorian musical troupe) “puts on” its flamboyant rendition of an unfinished Dickens mystery in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The story itself deals with John Jasper, a Jekyll-and-Hyde choirmaster who is quite madly in love with his music student, the fair Miss Rosa Bud. Now, Miss Bud is, in turn, engaged to Jasper’s nephew, young Edwin Drood. Our title character disappears mysteriously one stormy Christmas Eve-but has Edwin Drood been murdered? And if so, then whodunnit? Musical numbers include The Wage of Sin, Perfect Strangers, Both Sides of the Coin, Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead and Moonfall. The giddy playfulness of this play-within-a-play draws the audience toward one of the play’s most talked-about features, which allows the audience to vote on the solution as prelude to the most unusual and hilarious finale!
Cast
- William Cartwright, Chairman: Arthur Chill
- Edwin Drood: Marian McCabe
- John Jasper: James Lugo
- Rosa Bud: Jennifer Orwin Pelletier
- Helena Landless: Patricia Stein
- Neville Landless: John Eisele
- Reverend Crisparkle: Dean Jackson
- Princess Puffer: Rollin Gardner
- Durdles: Steve Roberts
- Deputy: Lou Siegel
- Bazzard: Ralph Bowers
- James Throttle: Tony Orwin
- Ensemble: Mario Barto
- Ensemble: Lois Green Darch
- Ensemble: Paul Russo
- Ensemble: Megan Mahoney Chill
- Ensemble: Sue-Ellen Mandel
- Ensemble: Gerald Spagnolo
- Ensemble: Joyce Melamed
- Ensemble: Candy Pittari
- Ensemble: Christopher Schweitzer
- Ensemble: Bonnie Shearn
- Ensemble: Richard Silver
Production Staff / Crew
-
Director: Elaine Vogel
-
Musical Director: Helen Lindsey
-
Choreographer: Diane Coupe Frankel
-
Scenic Designer: Robert Sven Olson
-
Costume Designer: Elisabeth Lynch
-
Lighting Designer: Michael Greene
-
Make-up Designer: Jennie Marino
-
Technical Director: David Vogel
-
Stage Manager: Rob Ward
-
Stage Manager: Evelyn Josephs Russo
-
Producer: Selma Sorkin
-
Producer: Jocelyn Beckman Murphy