The Mystery of Edwin Drood - Cast & Creative Inteviews

[Bialyhoos22]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 12:51pm

Hey all,

Didn't see this posted to the main BW site or the board so thought I'd repost:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNFgmG3MQBE&feature=player_embedded

The 5 minute preview has interviews with Rupert Holmes, Todd Haimes along with several cast members (Chita, SJB, Will Chase, Jessie Mueller) Also interviewed are Anna Louizos and William Ivey Long who show a number of set and costume renderings (which look fantastic!) It looks like they're completely decking out Studio 54 to resemble a Victorian music hall.

I really hope the stars align for this one, because right now this looks like it could be a phenomenal production.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 12:57pm

The set design looks fu@k!ng amazing.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 1:12pm

Wow, Stephanie Block is a genius!

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 1:20pm

Can't wait for this!!

[GottaHaveAGimmick]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 2:04pm

Thanks for posting. Have ticket for end of October. My 1st time inside Studio 54. Looks like a really fun night. And who doesn't love Chita?

[Younger Brother]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 5:18pm

Curios to know, how do audience members actually choose the murderer? Do they literally.. or do they just ponder it?

[Bialyhoos22]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 6:21pm

There's an actual voting by hands process half way thru the second act where members of the Music Hall Royale descend into the audience and gather votes from various sections. None of this is rigged (it certainly wasn't 25 years ago anyway...!) The audience also votes on the identity of the Detective Dick Datchery (whose played by the actress playing Drood) just prior to this vote - although this is done by round of applause from the audience. The two 'lovers' are also selected by level of applause at the end of the show.

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 1:16am

I've always wondered how they talley the voting process so quickly. I remember hearing an interview with Judy Kuhn, who understudied Rosa Bud, and apparently the first time she went on, she was the murderer and was notified as she was getting ready to go on for the scene with Puffer. Apparently she spend all of "the garden path to hell" frantically reviewing the lyrics.

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 1:16am

I've always wondered how they talley the voting process so quickly. I remember hearing an interview with Judy Kuhn, who understudied Rosa Bud, and apparently the first time she went on, she was the murderer and was notified as she was getting ready to go on for the scene with Puffer. Apparently she spend all of "the garden path to hell" frantically reviewing the lyrics.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 1:28am

The set design link don't work, can someone post a pic or I'll be googling allnight?
Thanks.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 2:04am

If you watch the video linked by the OP, it is at the 3:11 mark.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 2:15am

Thank you and good night.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 6:32am

Bialyhoo22 described the voting process for the original production (which I saw twice).

Members of the cast, with the exception of everyone who is a suspect (since they remain onstage and hold up numbered cards) go out into the audience. Each remaining cast member is assigned a section in the house of roughly 50-100 people. They interact with the audience and count the votes for that section, then return to the stage. The votes for each section are tallied backstage and then they resume the play. As the plot continues to unfold, the audience's choice for the murderer and the "mystery detective" are both revealed within the action.

Not saying that's exactly how it will be done in the revival, but it's how they did it in the original.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 4:32pm

I wonder if they could use something similar to TV's Millionaire's Ask The Audience feature? Or would that completely defeat the purpose of feeling like you're in a old Victorian music hall?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/19/12 at 4:34pm

^lol. Why not let the audience text their votes?

[goldenboy]

Posted: 9/20/12 at 12:16am

Having seen the original and not being an admirer, I am sorry Chita Rivera is in this.
Why? because I never miss a Chita Rivera musical. If she weren't in this, I wouldn't have to buy a ticket.
Chita.. Pick better musicals.

Posted: 9/23/12 at 10:03am

I'm excited for this. can't wait.