In a production that seems to relish risk and reward, Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre opens its 50th season with a challenging show unlike any presented during the troupe's previous 49.
"The Mystery of Edwin Drood" is songwriter Rupert Holmes' humorous, interactive 1985 musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' unfinished work of the same title. Here, a 19th-century British music hall troupe tells Dickens' story and lets the audience finish it by deciding who killed poor Mr. Drood.
In this story, the Summer Garden stage is converted into the Music Hall Royale, where a troupe of singing, dancing actors present a play within a play to tell Drood's story up to his disappearance — which comes after announcing his impending marriage to Rosa Budd, much admired by Drood's uncle, music teacher John Jasper.
On a stormy Christmas Eve, Drood walks to the river with mysterious newcomer Neville Landless ... and is never seen again.
First-time Summer Garden director Andy Scott has chosen a truly gifted cast, capable of surmounting every challenge while projecting a spontaneity that adds fun for audiences that confront colorful characters in baffling situations.
We are welcomed into this bawdy Victorian music hall by actor Erik Alexis, a skilled song and dance man in his Summer Garden debut who becomes an ingratiatingly enthusiastic Chairman William Cartwright and Mayor Sapsea.
Emily Lentz, also making her debut with Summer Garden, expertly plays the roles of Drood and Alice Nutting, joyously defining both in her acting and singing.
David Merrill adds to his established singing, acting and dancing credentials, displaying comedic talents by hilarious overacting and mugging. Merrill's deft delivery of "Both Sides of the Coin," sung with Erik Alexis, is a showstopper. Merrill's ardent tenor adds luster to "Moonfall" in a reprise duet with Paige Miller as Rosa, and shines in "Perfect Strangers," a duet with Casey Lynn Garner's beguiling Helena Landless.
The cast boasts another excellent singer in soprano Paige Miller, who is ideally cast as lovely Rosa Bud.
DJ Wojciehowski is clearly the show's most exciting, athletic dancer, and is excellent in roles of Victor Grinstead and Neville Landless.
Brilliant veteran actress Maribeth Vogel makes a memorable Annapolis Summer Garden debut as Princess Puffer, delivering a memorable "The Wages of Sin" that includes an invitation for the audience to join in.
"The Mystery of Edwin Drood" runs through June 20. For tickets, call the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre box office at 410-268-9212 or go to summergarden.com.