THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD

February 20 – March 14, 2004 – Hey City Theater

Music, Lyrics and Book – Rupert Holmes

This hilarious musical whodunit won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.  Loosely based on Charles Dickens’ famously unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Droodfollows the Music Hall Royale, an outrageously loony Victorian musical troupe, as it performs its flamboyant rendition of this musical mystery.  When young Drood disappears one stormy Christmas Eve, murder is suspected, but who could have committed the crime?  That is for the audience to decide!

Director / Choreographer – Steven Meerdink
Musical Director – Kevin Hansen

Scenic Designer – Alan Sorenson
Costumes – Theatrical Costume Company
Stage Manager – Joyce Norman

Cast
Mr. William Cartwright, Chairman – Eddie McNulty
Mr. James Throttle, Stage Manager & Conductor – Kevin Hansen
John Jasper / Mr. Clive Paget – Steven Meerdink
Edwin Drood / Miss Alice Nutting – Laurine Price
Rosa Bud / Miss Deirdre Peregrine – Stacey Lindell
Helena Landless / Miss Janet Conover – Heather McCornack
Neville Landless / Mr. Victor Grinstead – Ryan Paul North
The Reverend Mr. Crisparkle / Mr. Cedric Moncrieffe – Marlin Rothe
The Princess Puffer / Miss Angela Prysock – Randy Latimer
Durdles / Mr. Nick Cricker – Gregg Peterson
Deputy / Master Nick Cricker – Jacob Mahoney
Bazzard / Mr. Phillip Bax – Aaron Gabriel
Flo / Miss Florence Gill – Lori Barrett-Pagano

“With all of the entertaining elements it has going for it, it’s really no mystery why Edwin Drood is so much fun.  Director Steven J. Meerdink, who also performs, and musical director Kevin Hansen…handle the challenges of the show with Victorian-style aplomb.” – St. Paul Pioneer Press

“The production’s opening was packed with high energy and a warm camaraderie among cast members.  The cast exudes jolliness.  Laurine Price, who plays a pants-role character of Edwin Drood, emanates spark and sizzle, and at the end of the show, she nearly blasts the house down with sex appeal.  Randy Latimer creates wonderfully quirky moments as the aging proprietress of an opium den.  Eddie McNulty comes as close as possible to being Nathan Lane as the pun-spewing narrator.  The standout star of the show is Aaron Gabriel, who plays a sputtering, lovable bumpkin who finally gets his moment in the spotlight.  Gabriel patiently allows his character to reveal increasingly bizarre and lovable traits until he has the audience howling.” – Minneapolis Star Tribune