February 16 - March 12, 2006

Cast off the winter blues with this funny and delightful musical comedy. Join us for a trip to the British Music Hall where the actors of the Theatre Royale are presenting the inaugural performance of the musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The problem is the author, Charles Dickens, died before completing the story, so the audience is engaged to help solve the mystery, select a detective and unite a pair of lovers. A comic delight!!!

Reviews

DROOD'S ENOUGH FUN FOR ALL
The Portland Phoenix March 1, 2006
By Megan Grumbling
"...Good Theater's spectacularly entertaining latest musical comedy..." "Under the exemplary direction of Brian Allen, this stellar ensemble of fifteen portrays the rowdy Music Hall gang..." "In the rollicking tradition of the British music hall, Good Theater's Drood is robustly bawdy and wittily self-reflexive." "All this calls for strong and supple acting, and the performers of Good Theater's Drood make up one of the most accomplished, cohesive, and genuinely fun casts I have seen in any city." "Technically, too, this production is nothing short of stunning." "All said, Good Theater's technical design and direction is hot stuff, it is delectable to the eye, and it is stagecraft at its finest." "Good Theater's Drood is supremely satisfying stuff. At once effervescent and earthy, performed with impeccable humor and timing, this show of a show is truly delightful, and that delight is highly contagious."

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD
The Forecaster February, 22, 2006
By Scott Andrews,
"Last weekend, Good Theater... opened its excellent professional (non-Equity) production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. It's one of the company's best shows ever, and one that every theater aficionado will want to see." "Of the cast of 15, directed by Good Theater artistic director Brian P. Allen, I especially liked three actors. The driving force is provided by Steve Underwood as the all-to-obvious villain..." "Underwood's range of facial expressions and body language is one of the high points of the evening." "I also loved Cathy Counts as the loud-mouthed mistress of a London opium den..." "...and ingénue Karen Stickney, the innocent young soprano who's the love interest of several characters..." "Good Theater's technicals are spot on, most notably the scenic design by Janet Montgomery & elegantly detailed costumes, which were rented from a professional company."

CAST OFFERS FUN 'DROOD' WITH CHOICE ENDING
Maine Sunday Telegram February 19, 2006
By Mary Snell,
"It's a lot of fun for the audience - and a lot of work for the actors, because they must learn and keep fresh different line, lyrics and scenes - never knowing when and what will be chosen each night." "Director Brian Allen has assembled & directed a big cast (which he considers small for the show) that delivers the basically silly story & the fine score with energy & flair." "As the audience filed out of the theater, they were humming the same tunes that were in my head, and saying what I was thinking, "We should come back to see how it ends another night."

Cast & Crew

Directed by Brian P. Allen
Musical Director - Aaron Robinson
Choreographer - Samantha Fitschen
Chairman - Glenn Anderson
John Jasper - Stephen Underwood
Edwin Drood - Tanya Whitman
Rosa Bud - Karen Stickney
Princess Puffer - Cathy Counts
Neville Landless - Graham Allen
Helena Landless - Jessica Peck
Reverend Crisparkle - Chris Handy
Bazzard - William Sandstead
Durdles - John B. Nutting
Deputy - Christopher D'Iorio
James Throttle - Evan Charest
Flo - Betsy Melarkey Dunphy
Dancers - Tyler Sperry, Nell Green
Lighting - Jamie Grant
Costumes - Joan McMahon & Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Stage Manager - Karen Dunton
Concept/Artistic Set Design/Scenic Artist - Janet Mongomery
Technical Set Design - Stephen Underwood
Assistant Technical Director - Craig Robinson
Set Construction - Craig Robinson, Paul Drinan, Peter Dunphy
Photography - Craig Robinson, Stephen Underwood
Show Sponsor - Target