The Mystery Of Edwin Drood (Sacred Fools)

The Sacred Fools Theatre Company is putting on a very good production of THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD or as its now know simply as DROOD.  DROOD is a high concept musical which won five Tony Awards back in 1986 including BEST MUSICAL, BEST BOOK, and BEST SCORE. It’s a musical comedy about an English music hall company trying to put on a new musical based on an unfinished mystery by Charles Dickens. It is a difficult piece and has not always succeeded in revivals.  DROOD has fallen by the wayside until this season when there have been a whole slew of productions in the Southland.

     The production currently at the Sacred Fools Theatre is one of the more successful I have seen or been a part of.   Yes, this reviewer has been in no less than three productions. Every production has its good points and this one has many. The set by Joel David is very original and features side boxes for the audience and train-like bunks of stage where the characters can appear or disappear at will. On either side of the audience there is a small acting area consisting of a study where various scenes are acted out, or where the cast can watch the unfolding action. These areas also serve as singing areas with the effect that the audience is hearing the wonderful score by Rupert Holmes, from all sides.

     The acting is a bit uneven. Standouts are Mathew Tyler as the hissable villain John Jasper and the very talented Alexandra Billings as Princess Puffer the naughty purveyor of opium and laudanum. At first I wasn’t sure about Matt Tyler’s portrayal as it was more restrained than I had seen before. Eventually the contained performance won me over because of Tyler’s subtle performance and gorgeous singing voice. 

     Alexandra Billings is a marvel. I first saw her perform in BEFORE I DISAPPEAR and became an instant fan. Not only does she have a rich singing voice reminiscent of Cleo Lane the original Puffer but has a wicked sense of humor and provides many of the evenings memorable adlibs. She is also a good actress. I look forward to future performances.

     Other standouts include Tim Thorn as Chairman William Cartwright, Rachael Greene as Drood (one of the best I have seen), Joe Fria as Neville Landless, Jeffrey Markle as the drunken gravedigger Durdles. Douglas Clayton has done a bang up job of this neglected masterpiece.

SACRED FOOLS THEATRE. 660 N HELIATROPE AVENUE IN LOS ANGELES.  THROUGH NOV.4