Reviews: The Mystery of Edwin Drood at H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program
Written by Zach Moeller of Bishop Ireton High School
An unfinished novel, a murder unsolved, and a killer roaming free by the "Moonfall": in a musical that never ends the same way, The Mystery of Edwin Drood at H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program is an interactive and comedic triumph that seeks to answer the title question: Who murdered Edwin Drood?
Beginning as a novel by Charles Dickens, the Mystery of Edwin Drood was partway completed before Dickens's untimely death in 1870, leaving the mystery without a resolution until Rupert Holmes created a musical adaptation in 1985. Set as a musical within a musical, the show begins with the imaginary theatre troop of the Music Hall Royal being introduced before donning their roles in the story. As the plot progresses, the identity of Edwin Drood's murderer is left for the audience to decide, as their vote alters the ending of the show.
As a whole, the performance was delightful, with the cast showcasing powerful vocals, well-rehearsed scenes, and excellent comedic timing throughout. Alice Aramendia delivered an energetic performance as Chairperson Cartwright, who serves to move the performance along as the leader of the Music Hall Royal theatre troop. Aramendia's delivery never wavered, fully enunciating every word and commanding the stage with a powerful presence and imaginative body language. Aramendia's brief cameo as Mayor Thomas Sapsea demonstrated versatility through the elderly and hunched portrayal of Sapsea, which contrasted sharply with the lively and competent Cartwright. All of this, coupled with strong vocals and precise facial expressions, made Aramendia the true heart of this show.
Noah Golden's portrayal of the ever pugnacious and aggressive Neville Landless (as well as the Music Hall Royal actor Victor Grinstead) was certainly a standout. Golden had several chucklesome moments engineered throughout, while maintaining the character's status as an ominous character by prowling the stage with evocative physicality. As the night's elected murderer, Golden was well prepared, slipping easily into an even more maniacal Neville Landless through a chilling gaze and sinister laughter. Other performances to note were Ali Khalifa's depiction of John Jasper/Clive Paget and Ava Yi's portrayal of Rosa Bud/Deidre Peregrine. Khalifa's vocals were stunning, filled with depth and a quality of sound only matched by Yi's high soprano lilt and incredible vocal technique.
The mystery on stage was illuminated by a crafty lighting design (Arvand Fiske, Ben Groenert, Danny Ragnauth) that highlighted key moments in the show. Hues of violent, blood-red lighting washed the stage during "Jasper's Confession", creating an unsettling and alarming atmosphere for the mystery, while the brighter, more joyful tones of the Music Hall Royal made for an excellent contrast. The work of the costuming team (Jayden Brown, Sophie Charlton, Maddie Leclair-Johnson, Alexis Quinn) also deserves recognition, as their period accurate pieces, such as the intricate hair fascinators, brought the show to life.
H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program's performance of The Mystery of Edwin Drood was a splendid and fully immersive experience, where the audience themselves got to play a role.
Written by Hayden Schweikert of McLean High School
There are few things as tantalizing as the ending of an unfinished story. While questions continue to rise, H.B. Woodlawn Secondary School invites the audience to write the final pages alongside them in their alluring production of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood."
As a musical within a musical, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" is a production where the performers play actors of the "Music Hall Royale," who in turn play the characters starring in the show the audience sees. The story is set in a small English village, filled with suspicions following the sudden disappearance of Edwin Drood. The musical, based on the Charles Dickens novel of the same name, is left unfinished due to Dickens' untimely demise, and lets the audience decide what the ending ultimately is, altering how the story concludes each performance. Written by Rupert Holmes, the show premiered on Broadway in 1985, garnered 5 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and was later revived in 2012.
The Ensemble blended seamlessly into the story, working cohesively to heighten each moment of the story. Even while extending out into the audience, they remain locked into character, maintaining consistent English accents, and ensuring the story continues to feel energetic and incredibly immersive.
Chairperson William Cartwright, played by Alice Aramendia, leads the audience through the story, highlighting the many details that may be important later. Aramendia's physicality is unwavering throughout the entirety of the production, and is supplemented by the energy she consistently brings, all while sustaining clear articulations. As a pivotal figure in the Music Hall Royale's story, Rosa Bud, played by Ava Yi, finds herself at the heart of each conflict, as well as being one of the show's suspects. Yi's vocal ability is remarkably infused with emotion, giving depth to the romantic turmoil experienced by Rosa. This trait is especially evident as she sings "Moonfall," injecting raw feelings into each note she sings.
Reverend Crisparkle, played by George Boyle, oversees the well-being of the chaotic Landless twins and serves as another potential suspect. Boyle brought a wide range of versatility to his character. He splices many of the more dramatic moments he portrays with moments of lively physicality and an unmatched comedic timing that is sure to leave audiences roaring, all while preserving the religious nature of a good Reverend during the more earnest scenes.
Serving as this mystery's victim is Edwin Drood, played by Ilia Israel. While playing both Edwin, as well as Edwin's actress, Alice Nutting, Israel constantly delivered expressive reactions that enthralled the audience, as well as maintaining a captivating stage presence for many of the serious moments.
The Costumes Team, made up of Jayden Brown, Sophie Charlton, Maddie Leclair-Johnson, and Alexis Quinn, were poignant and period accurate to the Victorian era of the musical, adding a layer of depth that made the story feel more immersive. Further enhancing audience engagement was the Props Team, consisting of Charlotte Fletcher, Laurel LaGarde, Kelso Via-Hunt, and Sarah Jones. Many props featured intricate details, including painted papier mache food for a feast sequence, and props that doubled as foley art technology, including a box designed to sound like squeaky wood, and a tray of gravel.
A meticulously crafted story with outstanding performances from actors and tech alike, H-B Woodlawn Secondary School's production of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" is sure to leave audiences "off to the races" to rewrite the ending once more.
Written by Ethan Desa of Robinson Secondary School
A riveting, doomy, melodramatic murder mystery musical? It can't get much better than that. Diving into the streets of Cloisterham, The Mystery of Edwin Drood at H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program, crafted a foreboding yet spoofy atmosphere with its ominous lighting effects and humorous "whodunit" characters.
"The Mystery of Edwin Drood," originally an unfinished novel by Charles Dickens, was adapted into a musical by Rupert Holmes in 1985. This musical is set in Victorian England during the 1890s, while the narrative of the play-within-a-play occurs in the 1870s. It resolves the enigmatic murder of Edwin Drood by engaging the audience who participate as members of the "Music Hall Royale" and vote on different endings. The story centers on the mysterious murder of Edwin Drood, presented by a Victorian theater company that showcases the murder mystery in an interactive format.
Kicking the thriller off, Chairperson William Cartwright, played by Alice Aramendia, guides the audience through the entire mystery. Aramendia's witty portrayal as the narrator-esque Chairperson makes the show interactive. Whenever Aramendia wasn't serving as the "Master of Ceremonies", Aramendia demonstrated active listening during scenes by maintaining eye contact with the speaking subjects. Moreover, Aramendia's scintillating and swift eye movements connected to the audience's sense of humor seamlessly.
The cast was vocally dazzling, but Deidre Peregrine/Rosa Bud, played by Ava Yi, truly stood out. Yi's white swan portrayal along with a true soprano voice filled the auditorium with astonishment and admiration. In addition, with Yi's pure and whimsical vocals blending coherently with Clive Paget/John Jasper's (Ali Khalifa), the ambiance of their duet, "The Name of Love / Moonfall", was radiating with chilling power.
As Edwin Drood's enemy, Victor Grinstead/Neville Landless, played by Noah Golden, used the character's detestation of Drood to deliver excellent comic timing. Golden implemented a stereotypical angry cartoon character persona into Nevile Landless to shape a volatile and passionate role. Specifically, Golden imbued Nevile Landless with that persona by adding dramatic pauses and an angry smirk at pivotal moments.
The lighting designs (Linz Moore, Arvand Fiske, Ben Groenert) effectively portrayed the mood of each scene, thanks to the collaborative efforts of stage managers Will Eggert and Jack Reich. The collaboration of lighting, props (Charlotte Fletcher, Annie Ahrens, Maya Dereje, Sarah Jones, Laurel LaGarde, Shane Laughlin, Kelso Via-Hunt), and costume design (Joe Salasovich, Jayden Brown, Alice Aramendia, Sophie Charlton, Maddie Leclair-Johnson, Charlie Levine, Alexis Quinn, Jay Schlosberg, Kaz Szwez) resulted in a visually cohesive presentation. The color palette, characterized by tasteful reds and browns, complemented the classic murder mystery theme, while strategically placed colored lights against a Victorian town backdrop conveyed the emotions of each scene. Reds symbolizing danger, death, or love, and light blues representing peace, humor, or purity.
The costume designs (Joe Salasovich, Jayden Brown, Alice Aramendia, Sophie Charlton, Maddie Leclair-Johnson, Charlie Levine, Alexis Quinn, Jay Schlosberg, Kaz Szwez, Marjan Salasovich, and Alison McDonald) exhibited careful attention to detail. Each costume was thoughtfully chosen to correspond with various settings within the musical, such as The Music Hall Royale and the summer and winter scenes of Cloisterham, reflecting period-appropriate styles. Specifically, in the winter scenes, the cast wore winter coats, intensifying the authenticity of the setting. Furthermore, the ensemble typically wore neutral tones, while leading characters like Deidre Peregrine/Rosa Bud were distinguished by their bright color choices, such as white and blue.
Concluding this "investigation", H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program's production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood intricately combined numerous technical elements to immerse the audience in a clever interactive story, brimming with drama, vibrancy, and thrill.