The Howard – Theater Review – “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” at Goodspeed Musicals.

Reviewer: Howard Steven Frydman aka “The Howard”

Theater Review by: Howard Steven Frydman

Theater: Goodspeed Opera House

Music/Lyrics/Book. Rupert Holmes

Director: Rob Ruggiero

The Howard Says, “Drood is a “Doozy” of a “Smashing” Good Time”.

Hello Possums- “Huzzah Huzzah!” – to both Director Rob Ruggiero and Goodspeed Opera House for mounting a most exquisite musical entry of Rupert Holmes’ Tony Award Winning Musical Production “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” as its first production of the 2024 season. Folks – this bloke – meaning “The Howard” is simply “cracking” with pure excitement after viewing this absolutely “Jump for Joy Jubilee” of a musical edition of Charles Dickens’ final incomplete novel. Did I say Dickens? Just like my all-time Yuletide favorite – “A Christmas Carol” – we are indeed London bound, (actually East Haddam, CT) for “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”. As you can already surmise “it’s a Doozy of a Smashing Good time” -take it from the Howard, – music, high steppin’ dancing, a mystery, audience participation and it’s up to YOU to choose who killed Edwin Drood? Or is he? As stated, It’s simply a mystery!

Calling all you Sherlock Holmes, Mrs. Marples, Hercule Poirots and latent Columbos, you are indeed the detective on the scene. Questions, questions, “and one more thing’, MOED – is a whimsical, oftentimes just plain silly, high steppin’, Victorian, L.O.L. murder/musical “show within a show” whodunit mystery that all takes place on the stage of the Victorian-style “Music Hall Royale” – wow that’s a mouthful! Friends, please note that characters do not actually portray specific Dicken’s characters, but are the cast members of the “Royal Music Hall” who have been hired to play Dickens troupe of players, some in multiple roles, as they engage the audience in a humorous process of deduction, song and dance and the eventual whodunnit.

Mamie Parris and the cast of Goodspeed’s The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

So? who did “Drood” in by the river? No splitting hairs or overcoats here – it’s a who’s who of wannabee, maddeningly “smashing” wink of the eye suspects. For newbies – think the board game “Clue”- “it was Colonel Mustard in the Library with the candlestick.” Dicken’s rosters of culprits, beside Drood include – Throttle, Drood, Crisparkle, the Landless Twins, Princess Puffer, Rosa Bud and that double dee- Dick Datchery. Don’t you just fall in love with these character’s names? In fact, I named my beautiful collie, Topper, after a Dicken’s character! If I had to make an early surmise, it’s that “hotsie-totsie” – Princess Puffer who did Drood in at the Den- another mouthful!

As Sherlock would say “The game is afoot”- Rupert Holmes, (not related to Sherlock I suspect) has provided a multilayered, well-crafted Musical Murder Mystery, with multiple conclusions that you the audience vote on, per performance, choosing who the murderer is – deducing the real killer by the clues provided. Each performance has a possible eight various outcomes and by a show of hands – you pick the murderer – OMG!! Let me state at this juncture-during intermission of this April matinee performance, I strike up a conversation with a young woman who had already seen, as stated, this Goodspeed production three times, her hope she explained, was to see all eight of the various outcomes to the “Mystery of Edwin Drood” – an absolutely amazing dedication to the mystery of Drood! BTW who does the Howard suspect- hmmmmm? EVERYONE!! –

Firstly, I give my highest regard to Director Rob Ruggiero, he has provided a “peerless and unparalleled” first production entry to the foremost “gold standard” of musical theater – The Goodspeed. Huzzah! The Howard so enjoys how the characters intermingle throughout production, having the audience be part of the play and as stated its legion of murderous outcomes. Ah the characters- and those delicious intermingling actors – and this cast of twenty sensational actors – simply “Smashing” My friends!! A good cast, nay a great cast should be noted- firstly our ensemble including: Jon Cooper; Benjamin Howes; Albert Jennings; Miyuki Miyagi; Jacqueline Petroccia; Jesse Swimm; Natalie Welch; Megan Arseneau and Noah Ruebeck – kids ya done good, by The Howard’s book I do say, I say I say!!

Onward to our amazing troupe of lead performers. That singing sensation herself- in the dual role of our Miss E. Drood and Dick Datchery, aka Alice Nutting- Miss Mamie Parris. Out top tier cast includes: Paul Adam Schaefer as Jasper/Clive Paget; Levin Valayil as Neville Landless/Victor Grinstead, Riley Noland as Rosa Bud/Deidre Peregrine, Jetta Juriansz as Helena Landless/Janet Conover, Paul Slade Smith as Crisparkle/Cedric Moncrieff; David Beach as Durdles/Master Nick Cricker; and Marcus Montgomery as Deputy/Mister Nick Cricker.

Please note, though this is such a large cast with stellar perforances, I humbly present the “Howard Noticed You Awards” aka “The HNYS”, to not one but three cast members – Mr. Lenny Wolpe who portrays the “Chairman” of the Music Hall- SIR YOU ARE COMEDY GOLD my friend, Jamie LaVerdiere as Bazzard – a standout performance sir – we took note. And lastly – we just fell in love with this “hotsie-totsie” cast member and so will you, Liz McCartney. Ms. McCartney as “Princess Puffer”- is simply a dynamo – on stage. A true “diva divine” who stole the show whenever she appeared on stage and we just loved it!~! Thank you, Liz McCartney!~ As stated, “Drood is a “Doozy” of a “Smashing” Good Time”. Enjoy!!

Liz McCartney in Goodspeed’s The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood will run April 5th – June 2nd, 2024. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.).

Tickets are available through the Box Office (860.873.8668), open weekdays at 10:00 a.m. and weekends at 11:00 a.m., or online at goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events and more, visit at goodspeed.org and follow on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Howard Steven Frydman is General Manager and Executive Director of BATV – Channels 5, 95 & 96 and a member of the CCC. Please feel free to contact Mr. Frydman with your thoughts and ideas at howards2424@gmail.com.