Edwin Drood

Character Synopsis	MOTTS Inc PRESENTS A musical by Rupert Holmes
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Links	Synopsis Act One The audience is in London, 1878, at the Theatre Royale, awaiting the premiere performance of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The chairman for this evening, Mr William Cartwright, introduces each of the players as the drama begins. First is John Jasper, Choirmaster of Cloisterham Cathedral, played by your very own Mr Clive Paget. But he is not the hero of our story. That honour goes to Edwin Drood, played in the great Victorian tradition of vamp played by Miss Alice Nutting. He/She is betrothed the impossibly virginal and pure Miss Rosa Bud, played by Miss Deidre Peregrine. Rosa is a music student of John Jasper, who can go a little twitchy when her upcoming wedding to Edwin Drood is mentioned. Two dark, mysterious strangers arrive with coffee skin and exaggerated accents! They are brother and sister, Helena and Neville Landless, from Ceylon, played by the stormy Miss Janet Coverdale and the brooding Mr Victor Grinstead. Like many, they have an air of mystery. We then meet the three comedians of the evening, Crickles and his son Durdles, the churchyard worker and his deputy. And the third? Well, as Mr Cartwright is forced to announce, he spent too much time at the bar earlier in the evening, so the chairman will now be forced to play the role of Mayor Sapsea. All three have business with each other, having just completed the internment of Mrs Sapsea. After some ritual body jokes, Mr Cartwright again assumes the role of Chairman. He now transfers our play to London, to a sinister opium den run by Princess Puffer, played by your very own Miss Angela Prysock. Here we find John Jasper, undergoing “therapy”. In a trance he cries out the name of Rosa Bud! It is now Christmas and Edwin and Rosa call off their engagement. They are invited to a dinner at John Jasper’s. It is a dark and stormy night and the mood of the guests matches the weather. There is much arguing, especially by Edwin and Neville. But all appears to be patched up and Neville offers to accompany Edwin when he leaves. And that is the last we see of Edwin Drood, save for his coat. The aforesaid coat is found by Bazzard, played by the rarely featured Mr Phillip Bax. This appears to be the only function in the play that Bax and Bazzardfill. But tonight he is indulged by Mr Cartwright, who induces him to perform a solo number. And then he exits. Our first act concludes with Jasper declaring his love for Rosa; And being brutally rejected. Act Two We begin Act Two with the arrival of two strangers in Cloisterham, Princess Puffer and a bearded riddle called Dick Datchery. After responding to the audience to be “Off to the Races”, things begin to become clearer until……….? Mr Dickens died and the novel ends!! But not at The Theatre Royale. Act Two now becomes a series of votes, by cast and audience. 1) Is Drood actually dead? The cast vote yes, as they despise Alice Nutting and want to be rid of her. She responds in a calm, reasoned manner. 2) Who is Dick Datchery 3) Who is the murderer of Edwin Drood? Our conlusion now begins! Rosa Budd, whilst fleeing, is laywaid by Princess Puffer, who reveals she was her nurse and was reminded of her by Jasper. All clues now point to Jasper! But unless the audience voted for him, which is unlikely, confusion reigns! Durdles now steps forward to give his witness account. This leads to the people’s choice for the final aria of confession! But at the Theatre Royale, we need a happy ending. So our final vote is for the romantic couple. This may indicate an audience’s interest in incest, but all bases must be covered. And to finish, there is one more surprise. Suddenly……..???

The audience is in London, 1878, at the Theatre Royale, awaiting the premiere performance of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The chairman for this evening, Mr William Cartwright, introduces each of the players as the drama begins.

First is John Jasper, Choirmaster of Cloisterham Cathedral, played by your very own Mr Clive Paget. But he is not the hero of our story. That honour goes to Edwin Drood, played in the great Victorian tradition of vamp played by Miss Alice Nutting. He/She is betrothed the impossibly virginal and pure Miss Rosa Bud, played by Miss Deidre Peregrine. Rosa is a music student of John Jasper, who can go a little twitchy when her upcoming wedding to Edwin Drood is mentioned.

Two dark, mysterious strangers arrive with coffee skin and exaggerated accents! They are brother and sister, Helena and Neville Landless, from Ceylon, played by the stormy Miss Janet Coverdale and the brooding Mr Victor Grinstead. Like many, they have an air of mystery.

We then meet the three comedians of the evening, Crickles and his son Durdles, the churchyard worker and his deputy. And the third? Well, as Mr Cartwright is forced to announce, he spent too much time at the bar earlier in the evening, so the chairman will now be forced to play the role of Mayor Sapsea. All three have business with each other, having just completed the internment of Mrs Sapsea. After some ritual body jokes, Mr Cartwright again assumes the role of Chairman.

He now transfers our play to London, to a sinister opium den run by Princess Puffer, played by your very own Miss Angela Prysock. Here we find John Jasper, undergoing “therapy”. In a trance he cries out the name of Rosa Bud!

It is now Christmas and Edwin and Rosa call off their engagement. They are invited to a dinner at John Jasper’s. It is a dark and stormy night and the mood of the guests matches the weather. There is much arguing, especially by Edwin and Neville. But all appears to be patched up and Neville offers to accompany Edwin when he leaves. And that is the last we see of Edwin Drood, save for his coat.

The aforesaid coat is found by Bazzard, played by the rarely featured Mr Phillip Bax. This appears to be the only function in the play that Bax and Bazzardfill. But tonight he is indulged by Mr Cartwright, who induces him to perform a solo number. And then he exits. Our first act concludes with Jasper declaring his love for Rosa; And being brutally rejected.

Act Two

We begin Act Two with the arrival of two strangers in Cloisterham, Princess Puffer and a bearded riddle called Dick Datchery. After responding to the audience to be “Off to the Races”, things begin to become clearer until……….?

Mr Dickens died and the novel ends!! But not at The Theatre Royale. Act Two now becomes a series of votes, by cast and audience.

1) Is Drood actually dead? The cast vote yes, as they despise Alice Nutting and want to be rid of her. She responds in a calm, reasoned manner.

Our conlusion now begins! Rosa Budd, whilst fleeing, is laywaid by Princess Puffer, who reveals she was her nurse and was reminded of her by Jasper. All clues now point to Jasper! But unless the audience voted for him, which is unlikely, confusion reigns! Durdles now steps forward to give his witness account. This leads to the people’s choice for the final aria of confession!

But at the Theatre Royale, we need a happy ending. So our final vote is for the romantic couple. This may indicate an audience’s interest in incest, but all bases must be covered. And to finish, there is one more surprise. Suddenly……..???

Synopsis

Act One

Act Two