The Mystery of Edwin Drood
2005 Auditions
All auditions are in the CSTOCK theatre at the Silverdale Community Center,
9729 Silverdale Way NW.
A quick note from the director:
This show requires the actor to play two parts (or more) as this is a `play within a play.'Rather than confuse you with the `actor' and the `character' names I will only list one part. The synopsis does the same.
Please remember that this show requires the actors to improvise. You have a great deal of contact with your audience in this show so be ready to have lots of fun! Remember that the audience votes on the ending!
If you would like to do more research on this show I recommend you check out the writer/composer Rupert Holmes' website
SYNOPSIS:
Act Oneopens as the members of the Music Hall Royale circulate among the audience, introducing themselves to the patrons, the Chairman of the proceedings bursts forth with the show's opening number There You Are. They then introduce John Jasper, the "Jekyll and Hyde" choirmaster who greets his young nephew Edwin Drood. Drood is engaged to the fair Miss Rosa Bud, who is Jasper's music pupil and the object of his mad obsession-Moonfall. The kindly Reverend Crisparkle and two exotic emigrants from Ceylon, Helena and Neville Landless, arrive. Neville is immediately attracted to Rosa, which makes him a rival to both Edwin and the secretive Jasper. Next we travel to London and the sinister opium den of the Princess Puffer who clowns with the audience, and explains her life in the hilarious and entertaining Wages of Sin. A sinewy ballet dance follows. We discover that one of Puffer's regular clients is none other than Jasper himself, who cries out the name "Rosa Bud" during a hallucination. Puffer shows great interest in this fact, and stores it away in her memory.
Back in Cloisterham, Neville and Drood meet and come to odds with each other almost immediately. Mayor Sapsea sings of this in the patter song Both Sides of the Coin. We are then introduced to the drunken stone mason Durdles, and his assistant Deputy. In the graveyard, they tell us that Edwin and Rosa have called off their engagement-Perfect Strangers. It is Christmas Eve and Jasper has arranged a 'reconciliating' dinner for the Landless twins, Crisparkle, Rosa and Drood-No Good Can Come from Bad. Jasper serves a particularly potent wine to his guests. Soon, the party disbands and the guests depart into a violent storm. The next day Drood has vanished. Crisparkle's assistant discovers Edwin's torn coat by the river. Drood was last seen walking there with Neville the night before. The cast summarizes the situation and launches into the rousing Off to the Races.
Act Two
begins six months later, and still there is no sign of Drood. There is much speculation as to his fate. Two sleuths arrive from out of town. One is Princess Puffer, and the other is a detective-in-disguise named Dick Datchery-A Private Investigation. One by one the characters reenter and build to the rousing kick-line number Don't Quit While You're Ahead. The company seems about to reveal the solution to the mystery when...the number and the play stop abruptly. The Chairman reveals that here is where Charles Dickens laid down his pen forever! The play is now thrown open to the audience while the Chairman and Company review the various suspects' motives and plot possibilities. In a series of unique voting events, amid much cheering (and booing and hissing of the villains), the audience determines the conclusion of the show.
- 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Dance. - 1:30-6:00pm Singing and Reading.
Sunday, February 13
- 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Dance. - 1:30-6:00pm Singing and Reading.
Saturday, February 12
- TBA
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
- Prepare a musical theatre or operatic style song (must be under 3 minutes) that demonstrates your vocal range. You must bring your own sheet music. An accompanist will be available. Karaoke background CD's are acceptable. You may be asked to read from the script. You may also be asked to participate in improvisational exercises. Bring appropriate dance clothing and shoes for the dance audition. All actors must participate in a dance audition.
| (ages are approximate and for reference only) | |||
| Character | Description | Age | |
| Chairman of the Board: baritone | The leader of the music hall troupe. The chairman carries the majority of the dialogue and must be quick with a joke and able to improvise. He is in charge of keeping the pace of the show moving. | 40-65 | |
| John Jasper: tenor | The Jekyl & Hyde choirmaster/villain. He is madly in love with Rosa Bud and will do anything to get her! | 30-45 | |
| Edwin Drood: mezzo soprano | John Jasper's nephew is played by a female! Edwin is an enthusiastic young man, engaged to Rosa Bud and has no idea of his uncle's lascivious thoughts for his fianc‚e. | 20-35 | |
| Rosa Bud: soprano | The sweet and innocent ing‚nue who is the music student of John Jasper. Engaged to Edwin Drood, Rosa is unhappy with the arranged marriage but afraid of the consequences if John Jasper can get her alone! | 20-35 | |
| Helena Landless: mezzo soprano | The mysterious young woman from Ceylon with an equally mysterious accent that can't be placed. This character is very protective of her brother and of Rosa. She has a sixth sense and knows John is a sick and twisted man! | 20-35 | |
| Neville Landless: baritone | The other half of the mysterious family from Ceylon. Neville has a very hot temper and immediately falls for Rosa Bud (like all men do). Both John and Edwin do not trust him. | 20-35 | |
| The Reverend Crisparkle: tenor/baritone | The sweet and kind minister who watches over the Landless twins. He has a secret or two hidden up his sleeve! | 40-70 | |
| The Princess Puffer: alto/belter | The owner of the opium den that John Jasper frequents. She too has a few secrets to reveal... a strong comedienne. This actress uses a bit of `rough' language. | 35-50 | |
| Durdles: baritone/tenor | The drunken stonemason and the comedian of the group. Durdles is quick with a joke for the audience and the Chairman. | 35-65 | |
| Phillip Bax: tenor | The understudy for John Jasper and the actor dying to go onstage for any reason. He overacts at every given opportunity! | 17-40 | |
| Deputy: tenor/baritone | The stonemason's assistant and just as comedic as Durdles. | 13-20 | |
| Stage Manager: non singing | Tries to keep the music hall actors on task.... | 20-70 | |
| Dick Datchery: detective | we don't know who he is.......yet | ??? | |
| Chorus: | Townspeople, dancers, servants, students, etc. The chorus in this show is extremely active and will be called upon to play many characters! | TBA | |