ROUNDABOUT to revive MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD- Page 3

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 12/16/11 at 4:32pm

Givesmevoice, forgive me, but I wouldn't want to see Patti wrestle with a Cockney accent again. Though assuming she stole her "Candide" costume, they could save a few bucks . . .

Fair enough, although half the fun would be her horrible accent.

That being said, I do like the idea of Paige as Puffer.


I saw Troy Britton Johnson as Kodaly in She Loves Me in Boston in 2008 and loved him. I'd like to see him take on another Howard McGillin role and play John Jasper.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 12/16/11 at 5:49pm

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?

[Miranda3]

Posted: 12/16/11 at 7:11pm

On YouTube, not that long ago, there was a music video made by the original cast of Drood showing them all in their street dress in a fictitious sound studio recording tracks with Rupert Holmes supposedly supervising. The conceit of the video was that he kept them doing repeats over and over, resulting in one of them slipping poison into his coffee cup. As he gradually succumbs to the poison, he hallucinates, successively visualizing each of the main characters in their Drood costume, looming over him and seeming to be the murderer. This was in the early days of music videos and it is clunky and funny in retrospect. I wanted to find it again to post the link here, but I think it is no longer there. Has anyone else seen it?

[Jon]

Posted: 12/16/11 at 7:27pm

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.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 12/16/11 at 11:32pm

How about Sherie Rene Scott as Drood?

[Claudehb2001]

Posted: 12/20/11 at 4:41pm

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

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/20/11 at 5:27pm

I can only hope that Loretta Swit is asked to reprise her role as Princess Puffer. Sheer magic every time she walk on stage.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/20/11 at 5:29pm

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.

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 12/20/11 at 5:41pm

Could someone who saw the original run and it's subsequent version please explain the changes made to the score?

[Miranda3]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 8:40am

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

[Chrranke]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 9:10am

Mark Kudish for Jasper!!!!

[Jon]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 11:41am

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.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 11:43am

Kudisch is soooo way too old and portly for Jasper.

Edward Watts , on the other hand...

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 12:31pm

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.

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

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 12:35pm

Most of the those changes mentioned were added to the London production and are reflected in the current licensed script, with the cut material still being available as 'optional'

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 12:36pm

Didn't the London production tank?

Either way, no thanks.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 12:38pm

In its defense, Holmes in the licensed script lists very detailed reasons why all the changes were made. With the exception of cutting "A Man Could Go Quite Mad" (and I've never heard of a production that hasn't restored it) I have to say I do think the revised script is an improvement.

EDIT: The London production was a huge bomb, but I think it had more to do with the novelty of the show's 19th century 'music hall' concept meeting with collective shrugs from British audiences (already well versed in such things) than with the show's re-writes.

I will say though that the London cast was no where near as special or unique as their original Broadway counterparts, adding weight to what has already been talked about here - that casting this show is absolutely paramount to its success.

Here, btw, is a clip to the Original London Cast performing on UK TV.


DROOD AT THE SAVOY IN LONDON Updated On: 12/21/11 at 12:38 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 1:09pm

A Man Could Go Quite Mad is my favorite song.

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

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 1:12pm

In his notes, Holmes stated that it was cut in London for pacing reasons. I also suspect that its possible the actor cast in the role over there wasn't quite up to the demands of the role vocally.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 1:31pm

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.

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

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 3:49pm

Damn! A revival that it's difficult to bitch about.

Imelda Staunton as Puffer
Lauren Ambrose as Edwin
Barry Humphries as The Chairman

No, wait - Christopher Walken as The Chairman!!!!

No, wait again - Jane Horrocks as Edwin!



Updated On: 12/22/11 at 03:49 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 4:51pm

Barry Humphries would make a fantastic Puffer.

What about Christopher Fitzgerald as The Chairman?

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 5:37pm

There are lots of larger-than-life American actors who could fit the lead roles, but because it's "Music Hall," a decidedly British style of performance, I don't think some of them could handle it. I think Nathan Lane has the presence and skill for the Chairman, but he's too NY and Vaudeville, I doubt he could pull it off.

I was thinking Jim Dale or maybe Michael Crawford. And Princess Puffer definitely needs to be older (meaning 50-60ish). Her songs wouldn't have nearly the resonance if she weren't. Just take a look at the way-too-young Lulu in the London clip that MB posted. She's fine except for being 15 years too young for the part.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 6:12pm

"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?

[tazber]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 7:33pm

Lindsay, Crawford, Dale...all great suggestions. Also, Jonathan Pryce.

Could Puffer be black? I don't recall anything in the script that specifies her race. Loretta Devine would be a great choice.