Theater Review: An Unconventional, And Very Enjoyable, Dickens Story At TheatreWorks New Milford
NEW MILFORD — What happens when you mix Charles Dickens, a whodunnit, and a bawdy Victorian English music hall? You get the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood, now on the boards at TheatreWorks New Milford under the direction of Diana Canova.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood was the final piece of writing from Charles Dickens. In 1985, the Public Theater in NYC turned to composer Rupert Holmes (author of “Escape [The Pina Colada Song]”) to adapt the lesser-known Dickens novel into a musical for its New York Shakespeare Festival. There was one caveat: the novel did not have an ending.
Dickens died before finishing it. Holmes’s solution was to let the audience decide.
Using the meta framing device of a bawdy English music hall show within a show, Drood tells the story of young Edwin Drood (being played by Vanessa Diana) who goes missing and is presumed dead. A madcap musical whodunnit ensues, with a host of suspects, each with secrets of their own.
From the moment the show opens, the audience knows they are in for an unconventional night of theater. The cast starts mingling with the audience and is called to attention for the opening number by The Chairman (Joe Harding). The Chairman serves as the narrator of sorts and takes the audience on the raucous journey.
Harding is a beloved local staple, who brings a quick wit and delightful joy to everything he does. This role is no exception.
Diana’s dynamics and chemistry with her scene partners are palpable. The duet of Drood and his betrothed, Rosa Bud (Rebecca Spalvieri), is a highlight.
Spalvieri is the perfect Rosa Bud. The melodramatic ingenue, with the voice of an angel. This is a difficult show in terms of tone, where the actors need to strike the right balance of the serious and the silly, and Spalvieri hits all the right notes, literally and figuratively.
Playing the tortured Choir Master John Jasper, who is obsessed with Rosa Bud, is Tyler Wolfson. His frenetic absurdity is a wonder to behold.
TheatreWorks regular Jonathan Ross takes on the holier-than-thou Reverend Crisparkle. Ross is always a wonderful presence on stage. Crisparkle is charged with watching over two new residents of Cloisterham, England, Helena and Neville Landless (Jazzy Cores and Pedro Couy, respectively). Both are extremely charming in their roles. Each can elicit a laugh from a simple breaking of the fourth wall.
Speaking of breaking the fourth wall, there is also the character Bazzard, played by master thespian Bruce Tredwell. Tredwell is comfortable in both deep drama and silly musical comedy, and his “small” part in this show is a major highlight. The audience last weekend even got to see him step into a bigger role when voting time came. No spoilers.
Drood has a very large cast. While there is not room to mention everyone, other shout-outs need to go to Annie Evans as the mysterious Princess Puffer; Gale Alexander as Durdles, the drunken gravedigger; and Cat Heidel as Mrs James Throttle, the music hall’s harried stage manager.
Sue Haneman’s costumes always knock it out of the park. They are perfectly in period.
Director Canova has done a beautiful job with this difficult show. This is such a huge show for such a small stage and she manages to make it look easy.
Marc Cherry’s musical direction is also a standout.
For those who want to forget their troubles for a few hours and (pardon the pun...) escape, The Mystery of Edwin Drood at TheatreWorks New Milford is the way to go.
Performances continue to October 10. Tickets and more info can be found at theatreworks.us.