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Engaging actors stand out in ‘Drood’
By STEPHANIE OTTEY
YOUNGSTOWN
This weekend and next, the actors of the Youngstown Playhouse will be asking for help from viewers as they try to solve “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.”
“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” is based on the unfinished mystery novel of the same title by Charles Dickens.
“Drood” was Dickens’ last work. He died before finishing the novel, so it remains as a great mystery in every sense.
Scholars and fans alike have tried to solve Dickens’ intended ending for decades, but as yet have come to no common conclusion.
In this musical adaptation by Rupert Holmes, the audience is left to determine the ending.
The vehicle of a play within a play is used to introduce the many characters and motives of “Drood.”
A fictional theater troupe presents the mystery, company members break in and out of character to illustrate how complex Dickens’ writing was, and in the end they all stop and ask the audience to vote for the conclusion they like best.
Herein lies the fun, quirky nature of the show.
Directed by Lester D. Malizia, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” bears a dinner-theater-esque feel, and has the potential to be a riotously funny, tongue-and-cheek show. Opening night, however, needed a boost of energy.
The cast puts in a great effort — there are quite a few performers that are very engaging on stage.
Brianne Kochunas plays the title character of Edwin Drood with a charmingly light step. Her bright and clear vocal tone is delightful, but not featured enough.
David Lynch is a slimy John Jasper, the obvious villain in “Drood.” Lynch has mastered the traits of a good foe and amps up the goofy drama of the show nicely.
Carla D. Gipson steals the show with “The Wages of Sin,” waking things up with a great vocal performance.
Newcomer John Weber is loveable as Bazzard, making the most of his melodramatic one-liners, and entertaining in “Never the Luck.”
Dylan White, Derek Lynch and Anne Rematt are fun to watch, and Donny Wolford, Alan McCreary, Dave Wolford and Liz Nalepa make appearances as well.
Unfortunately, the entire cast is stifled by relatively bland costumes. The characters in “Drood” scream to be physically stereotyped to the extreme, but the ingenue, villians, foreigners, and tramps in this production are all pared down to be borderline dull.
The set design and musical score are also relatively plain, perhaps to reflect on the amateur nature of the heater company putting on the play within the play.
Opening night seemed to display some nerves as well. Surely, no actor likes to go on stage without knowing the ending of the show about to be performed, but this cast is sure to grow more confident with each performance.
Either way, each night is an opportunity for new show — in this case literally — so audiences should go into “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” with an open mind. It’s sure to be a unique experience.
“Drood” runs through next Sunday at The Youngstown Playhouse. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 on Sundays. The theater is located at 600 Playhouse Lane Youngstown, off Glenwood Avenue. For information and tickets call 330-788-8739.