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Audience will determine the ending of ‘Drood’
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
Charles Dickens died before he could finish his novel “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.”
But audiences seeing the 1985 musical based on the story have been finishing it for him.
The Youngstown Playhouse will present “Drood, the Musical” this weekend and next.
Loosely based on Dickens’ unfinished novel, “Drood, the Musical” was written by Rupert Holmes. It debuted in 1985 and went on to win five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Holmes won Tonys for Best Book and Best Original Score.
Lester Malizia of New Castle, Pa., is directing the Playhouse’s production. A long-time fan of Dickens, he was taken with the musical the first time he saw it years ago in New York.
“It was hysterical,” he said. “I thought it was great fun. It has a glancing relationship with [Dickens’] book — some of the situations and characters are there. But the musical takes a lighthearted approach, whereas the book is very dark.”
A lot of scholarly work has gone into figuring out what Dickens’ intent was, and how he would have finished the book.
But since no one can ever be certain, why not let the audience decide?
“The interesting thing about the musical is that the audience votes on the solution to the mystery,” said Malizia. “Every night it’s a different performance because it could be a different solution. It’s a fascinating thing to work on, and it’s a lot more difficult. There are multiple possibilities for endings, and all of them have to be rehearsed. There isn’t another show that I know of in which that happens. It’s a unique experience for both the cast and the audience. They have no idea how it will end. All of the endings are scripted, but the audience votes on which one is chosen.”
Set in Victorian England, “Drood” is presented as though it’s the house troupe at the Music Hall Royale in London giving a performance. The audience is spirited into the era and becomes the audience at the Royale.
The theater chairman guides the presentation, and at a certain point, he tells the audience that is all Dickens wrote.
At this time, the actors go into the audience and collect the votes from the audience.
There is action onstage as the ballots are counted backstage. When the results are determined, the play resumes.
Not knowing the ending until the show is nearly over presents some unique challenges for the cast.
“It’s crazy to rehearse and it’s crazy to do it, but it’s so much fun,” said Malizia.
“It really does go differently every night,” he continued. “There are at least nine options for solving the mystery and at least 35 options for who ends up as lovers, and another nine or 10 for who is the detective in disguise — and it can all vary in many different ways.
“It’s pretty intense for the cast. Everybody is on their toes. In theater, they say you have to do every show as if it’s the first time, but in this show, it really can be the first time each night.”
The cast includes David Lynch, Derek Lynch Anne Rematt, Carla Gipson, Dylan White, Liz Nalepa, Braianne Kochunas , David Wootan and Donnie Wooten.
Because of its live ending, “Drood” also requires a seasoned director — such as Malizia.
A New Castle, Pa., native who recently returned to the area, Malizia has a career’s worth of experience.
He was the artistic director of Seaside Music Theater in Daytona Beach, Fla., for 20 years. Before that, he was a professional director in New York and Tennessee.
Malizia teaches theater at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa.
He also directs plays at New Castle Playhouse, where his most recent credit was “The Rose Tattoo.”