ROUNDABOUT to revive MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD — Page 3

Love the idea of Heidi Blickenstaff as Drood. And though I'm sure she'd be wonderful as Rosa, I really like the idea of Laura Benanti as Helena- she could certainly pull of the comedy.

Also- what about Christopher Fitzgerald as Bazzard?

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If they can't get an actual Brit, I couild see David Hyde Pierce as Chairman.

Edward Hibbert as Rev. Crisparkle.

And please, no break dancing from Deputy.

@Miranda3, is this the video you're talking about?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxrU5_je85E

Curious that Roundabout is reviving it, and it's not being done through the Public... the 50th anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park is next year, and this would be an exciting event.

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Claude: Yes, that's the video I mentioned. Thanks so much for finding and posting the link. Much appreciated!

Changes:

"A Man Could Go Quite Mad" was cut.

"A British Subject" replaced "Ceylon"

The song done by Datchery and Puffer at the top of Act 2 was changed. And it was preceded by a full cast chorale, "England Reigns".

"Off to the Races" was moved to the Act I finale, rather than the Moonfall reprise.

Some of the confessions were re-written, and Durdles was added to the list of possible murderers.

Several of those changes sound terrible:

"A Man Could Go Quite Mad" was cut. (It's a leitmotif that runs throughout the entire show.)

"Off to the Races" was moved to the Act I finale, rather than the Moonfall reprise. Probably because the two singers (Jasper and Rosa Bud) weren't good enough to stop the show with vocal prowess the way Howard McGillin and Patti Cohenour did in the original. It was an electrifying moment that ended Act I. I'm glad they didn't get their hands on Dreamgirls.

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Updated On: 12/21/11 at 12:31 PM

Didn't the London production tank?

Either way, no thanks.

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A Man Could Go Quite Mad is my favorite song.

Why did they cut it? It seems so integral to setting up that character.

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The problem with Drood is striking a balance for the evening. You have Dickens' unfinished murder mystery, and you have a music hall setting with a bunch of bawdy actors playing these parts. The structure and balance are important between the two. As I said earlier, my opinion is that the show won't do well without a stellar cast (not meaning theatre stars, but larger-than-life personalities in every single role). But the writing helps it out. With the OBC, Act 1 ended by allowing the Dickens plot to take over and shine. A rare "dramatic" moment (the highest of the evening) where the sinister plot actually takes center stage. It was the oppressed and lovely ingenue against her twisted mad choir master (I HATE that they cut his setup song) "going at it" and raising the roof vocally.

Ending Act I with "Off To the Races" means nothing. It's a throw-away song. It's like ending Act I of Music Man with Shapoopi. It's just a "fun" song meant to rouse an audience.

But the audience for Drood has to care enough about the Dickens plot to vote for a murderer and a detective at the end of the show. So if you focus too much on the "having fun" part and not the actual story, the ending means even less than it already does.

In other words, (and no, I haven't seen anything other than the Broadway production), I think it's a big mistake to end Act 1 with something other than The Name of Love/Moonfall.

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Updated On: 12/21/11 at 01:31 PM

Barry Humphries would make a fantastic Puffer.

What about Christopher Fitzgerald as The Chairman?

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"I would love to hear the song "Perfect Strangers" back on Broadway again!"

Definitely, Jimbo! I just love that song. The melody is intoxicating. I remember when I first saw the original production and that song ended, I got the feeling I get when I've just finished a great novel. The music had hooked me so much that I was having withdrawal symptoms.

best 12, what do you think about Robert Lindsay for The Chairman?