Revive Edwin Drood!- Page 2

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 10:50pm

Updated On: 12/16/05 at 10:50 PM

[Jon]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 10:55pm

It's rather well documented that George Rose was murdered by the family of his teenaged lover in the Dominican Republic.

[BialyBloomInc02]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 10:56pm

George Rose (God rest his soul) was brutally murdered in the Domican Republic just before he was to continue touring in Drood. His murderers (a family member and friend I believe of his adopted son) made it look like a car accident I recall. There are several articles about this in the NY Times surrounding his tragic passing. He was a brilliant talent who went too soon.
Updated On: 12/16/05 at 10:56 PM

Posted: 12/16/05 at 11:17pm

I love that show. So clever. I saw it at the Delacorte about ten times and also when it transferred to Broadway. My favorite musical from the eighties.How about Marin Mazzie as Princess Puffer?

[jimmirae]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 4:54am

This is one of my FAVE shows & casts! I'd love to see Jim Dale or Daniel Davis as Chairman/Mayor Sapsea. Too bad Shirley Bassey never got a crack at Puffer, I always loved her and now she's older and really was never an "Actress" but one helluva show woman. Cleo Laine was Flawless - But I was thinking, I wonder if Betty Buckley might return but as Puffer this time? I'd love LuPone but she wouldn't do it, I'd think I died and went to Broadway Heaven and George Rose, Flawless Talent as he was, left some big shoes to fill. You know, Howard M looks so good he could even reprise his role as Jasper, which would lend a nice touch. I don't suppose Bernadette would ever care for Puffer eh? I don't seem to know the lady Rath was voting on, But I trust Rath's opinion so she must have the goods.

[hypertruffle]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 9:52am

It's about damn time we revive this! How about John Lithgow as the Chairman?

[Ladyofthe Lake]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 10:42am

I dunno. He's got to be able to do full-on Music Hall...

...which is the British equivalent of Burlesque and/or Vaudeville. It takes a special talent to be able to handle that style of presentational theatre.

Tim Curry did a music hall number on "Saturday Night Live", and absolutely nailed it. I'd love to see him as the Chairman.

[Anne_here]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 11:04am

It was incredible sad what happened to George Rose.

I have often wondered why DROOD has never been revived. Does anyone have the Australian Cast Album? Is it good? I saw it a long time ago, but never bought it. Never saw it since.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 11:44am

Yes, It was a damn shame about George Rose - I know he had so very many years and wonderous performances left in him to share with us, all to be so horribly taken away out of greed to people he was already being more than generous to, It was all over money! It still hurts me.
I have not had the pleasure to hear the oz cast album, And I had the script in a nice hardback book once but now know not where it is. Every time I met up with Dame Cleo Laine, We would chat and often about "Drood" and I always got a luxurious hug & "stole a kiss" on the cheek, but never thought to ask for an autograph or photo, well, She sent me a lovely full colour autographed photo last week and she still is touring with her husband, the wonderful Johnny Dankworth, They shall be back here touring the US in 2006, I MUST see her live again, Such a sweetheart, and she ages like fine wine, you wouldn't know Dame Cleo is now an octagenerian. She is Glorianna indeed!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 2:44am

I came up with another Puffer today - Debra Monk.

[Jon]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 10:20am

Yes, I recall Tim Curry doing a music hall number about a "big zucchinni" on SNL.

[Ladyofthe Lake]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 10:26am

Yes, I recall Tim Curry doing a music hall number about a "big zucchinni" on SNL.

Yes, that would be the one.

[sweeneyfan]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 10:28am

My name should really be Droodfan...It is my favorite show ever!

Matthew Morrison would be great as Neville Landless... Tom Aldredge as Reverend Crisparkle... Alice Ripley as Drood for sure! And how about Emily Skinner as Puffer? She'd be a scream! Patrick Wilson might not be able to sing it, but he'd be a great Jasper...Sara Ramirez as Helena Landless? The guy who won the Tony for Spelling Bee would be a great Bazzard. How about Bill Irwin as the Chairman?

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 10:37am

Joe Grifasi (sp?) was wonderful in the original. Cleo Laine was beyond wonderful.

[littleredridinghood]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 10:49am

Isn't Emily Skinner a little young for Puffer? She might be a good Rosa, though, especially with Alice Ripley as Drood... "Perfect Strangers" would be great. But I'd like to see Laura Benanti or Sarah Uriarte-Berry as Rosa. Someone put Michael Maguire back on Broadway as Jasper, if he can sing it.

[sweeneyfan]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 10:58am

Perhaps you are right about Emily... as Rosa, she'd be great... and they'd (Alice & Emily) be bringing a long history together to the roles.

To me the ultimate Puffer would be Angela Lansbury... She would be so funny... and the part isn't that huge that even at her age (God Bless Her!) She could handle it!

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 11:25am

If they revive this they'll put stars in the leads. (Boy, do I sound like a broken record with that one, but it's true.)

Drood, Puffer and the George Rose part. Maybe not all three, but very likely.

Puffer is an easy role to cast with a celebrity. She can be "of a certain age," and she doesn't have to sing all that well (but it sure helps the show if she can). The field is wide open. But big name Broadway talent will lose out to big name Hollywood talent here. I'd bet money on it.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 11:29am

If they cast Rosie O'Donnell as Puffer, as God as my witness, I'll never set foot in a Broadway house again.

[Isabella2]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 11:58am

you guys are making want to buy this cd from amazon. Is it true that this show had a different ending everytime? I read that on an SAT question.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:12pm

Rath -- you and me both. Is she selling that many tickets for Fiddler?

Isabella2 --- Drood was on the SATs??? Who'da thunk? Yes, it's potentially different every show, since the audience votes for the identities of the muderer and the "mysterious detective."

Updated On: 12/22/05 at 12:12 PM

Posted: 12/22/05 at 12:58pm

Elaine Paige for Puffer. Please do not bring back Loretta Swit. She was AWFUL!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:06pm

I don't know that Paige is ready to be relegated to "featured" status quite yet.

Posted: 12/22/05 at 1:07pm

Puffer is pretty much a lead.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 4:22pm

It's pretty much an ensemble piece, with three stand-out leads: the Chairman (George Rose), Edwin Drood & Puffer.

Two very large supporting roles: Rosabud & Jasper.

And a few more good-sized supporting roles: Neville & Helena, Durdles, Bazzard & Crisparkle (the Reverend)

[paradox_error]

Posted: 12/22/05 at 4:40pm

For the person that did not know:

The person Rath was talking about, TONI LAMOND, is Australian Theatre Royalty, somewhat akin to Ethel Merman or Angela Lansbury.

One of THE great performers of our time.