Mystery of Edwin Drood The Musical

Rupert Holmes

Recommended Resources

Plot Summary & Audition Tips for Mystery of Edwin Drood

List of Characters in Mystery of Edwin Drood

The Mystery Of Edwin Drood: The Solve-It-Yourself Broadway Musical (1985 Original Broadway Cast)

The Mystery of Edwin Drood Vocal Selections (Sheet Music)

Official Synopsis

Since Charles Dickens died before he could complete the whodunit novel on which this musical is based, the audience determines the outcome of this story of murder.

The story is a play within a play, so all performers will be playing two characters.

Audition Preparation Suggestions for
The Mystery of Edwin Drood

The music in The Mystery of Edwin Drood is slightly operatic. A small group of beautiful dancing girls is needed.

 

 

The Chairman / Mayor Sapsea (Patter Voice)

A long and difficult role, keeps the whole thing together. Constant interplay with the audience and the other characters - ability to ad lib a real advantage. As it turns out, plays the small part of MAYOR SAPSEA.

James Throttle

The Royale's Stage Manager - interesting role, one which could be as big as it can be made, with a lot of interaction with the Chairman.

Clive Paget / Jasper (Baritone/Tenor)

The Royale's male lead, a devilishly attractive cad, and knows it. Plays Jasper, the baddie. Choirmaster of Cloisterham Cathedral, and uncle of Edwin Drood. In love with Rosa Bud. Madness lurks beneath smooth exterior. Major role. Strictly speaking, a suspect, but didn't do it. Big dramatic music, plus a patter duet.

Cedric Moncrieffe / Crisparkle (Tenor / Baritone)

An open book - scope for development (could be like the character he plays, or completely different). Plays CRISPARKLE. Archetypal vicar, but also a bit of a lurker - was in love with Rosa's mother. A suspect.

Alice Nutting / Edwin Drood (Legit Mezzo)

Prima donna and male impersonator, charming but, as you might expect, prone to stroppiness. Must command attention on the stage. Plays Edwin Drood. Attractive, rich and popular, the young man who has everything. Disappears in Act I, but comes back at the end.

Deirdre Peregrine / Rosa Bud (Legit Soprano to high B)

Always has the ingenue parts, for (we hope) obvious reasons. Plays ROSA BUD. The ingenue - young, beautiful and apparently fragile. Betrothed to Drood, the only man who isn't in love with her. A suspect.

ISOBEL YEARSLEY and FLORENCE GILL (Mezzo/Soprano)

Enthusiastic if not always well-directed members of the company. Play ALICE and BEATRICE. Girls, contemporaries of Rosa Bud.

 

Janet Conover / Helena Landless (Mezzo)

A long-standing trooper of the Royale - lots of scope for making this a character. Plays Helena Landless. Sister of Neville, and may have done it for his sake - a suspect. Stock Oriental character with "geographically untraceable accent".

Victor Grinstead / Neville Landless (Tenor/Baritone)

Enjoying his first night with the Royale. NEVILLE LANDLESS. Proud, well-to-do Ceylonese young man, fallen on hard times, falls out with Drood just before his death and thus a suspect. Accent as above.

NICK CRICKER / Durdles (Senior).

"Clown Prince of the Royale" who makes the most of every line - small part that can steal the show if the others are not careful! DURDLES. Old servant, sexton and drunkard. Carries the denouement.

NICK CRICKER / Deputy (Junior).

Son of Senior. A Boy (could be anywhere between seven and forty-seven) DEPUTY. Even lower in the pecking order than Durdles.

Angela Prysock / Princess Puffer (Legit Contralto)

Ancient receptacle much loved by the audience. Has done it all before (with everyone) - tart with a heart part. Plays PUFFER. Madam, opium dealer and general purveyor of vice of all kinds. Glamorous in her ruin. A suspect.

PHILIP BAX / Bazzard (Tenor/Baritone)

Devotee of the theatre, the everlasting understudy, who finally gets his moment. In fact may have quite a major part if (as is quite likely) the evening turns out that way. This is the sad clown part as opposed to Cricker who is the happy clown. BAZZARD. Another old retainer, but a classier one than Durdles. A suspect.

Other: Takers of small parts in the Royale, but along with other non-suspects, these will be important characters throughout, taking much of the responsibility for making the audience participation work, and working individually with sections of the audience. In addition, these characters are vital in creating the atmosphere of the touring theatre company.

 

Related Websites

Audition Preparation Materials

List of Songs in Mystery of Edwin Drood

The Mystery of Edwin Drood Song Lyrics

• Download the original novel "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" by Charles Dickens

• There You Are (Chairman & Company)
• A Man Could Go Quite Mad (Jasper)
• Two Kinsmen (Drood & Jasper)
• Moonfall (Rosa)
• Moonfall Quartet (Rosa, Helena, Alice, Beatrice)
• The Wages of Sin (Princess Puffer)
• Ceylon (Helena, Neville, Drood, Jasper, & Company)
• Both Sides of the Coin (Jasper & Chairman)
• Perfect Strangers (Drood & Rosa)
• No Good Can Come From Bad (Neville, Rosa, Helena, Crisparkle)
• Never the Luck (Bazzard & Company)
• The Name of Love And Moonfall (Rosa, Jasper & Company)
• Settling Up The Score (Datchery, Puffer, & Ensemble)
• Off to the Races (Chairman, Durdles, Deputy & Company)
• Don't Quit While You're Ahead (Puffer & Company)
• The Garden Path to Hell (Puffer)
• The Writing on the Wall (Drood & Company)