Page 22 •Thursday, February 12, 2004 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Pendulum
A play with the perfect end: ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’
Kristen Sween / Photographer
The audience is one of the primary players in Charles Dickens' "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." Pictured aix>ve are the other primary players from
left to right: Kim Shaw, Todd Beasley, Meris Burton, Kenneth Handler, Preston Ellis, Amanda Taylor, Perry Medlin, Trista Duval, and Cara Antosca.
Virginia Galvez
Reporter
Elon students will showcase the
both dynamic and exciting ‘The
Mystery of Edwin Dnxxi” Feb. 12-
15 in McCrary Tlieatre.
Set in London’s famous theatri
cal venue The Music Hall Royale,
this play combines music with dra
matic parody based on the novel
"Tlie Myster)' of Edwin Dixxxl” by
Charles Dickens.
There is one slight catch -
Dickens died before the completion
of the novel, so the ending is decid
ed by the audience through “voting”
for their favorite solution. Rupert
Holmes, who won Tony Awards for
writing the lxx)k, music and lyrics
of “DrcKxl,” adapted this unfinished
piece into a both ;imusing anil com
plex pnxluction, demanding of both
the actors’ and audience’s contribu
tions.
When chixjsing this show, direc
tor Linda Sabo was fascinated by
the score and its combination of
classical singing with a Giltert mid
Sullivan influence.
Another reason for choosing this
show, according to Sabo, was
because of the acting style.
Using an acting style known as
mekxlrania, this play joins melody
and drama into what would be con
sidered a “soap opera” performance
in today’s tenns, due to the use of
musical chords to emphasize impor
tant, extremely dramatic moments
in the production.
In addition to this musically
influenced drama, the actors use
their body movements to illustrate
different emotions and moods.
While this was considered
exiremely popular during the 1800s
in London,' these overly induced
gestures and body positions add an
clement of comedy to the show.
While this protiuction has many
entertaining aspects, it does not lack
complexity. Because this play is
based on a “play within a play,” the
story revolves around the perform
ance the characters are putting on, as
well as their personal lives and the
murder of Edwin Drood.
The audience is asked to not only
participate in the ending by voting
on their favorite solution but by also
paying close attention to the great
deal of movement of the Music Hall
Actor personas as well as the char
acters roles in the mekxlrama.
While there are at least seven dif
ferent scenarios involving who may
have murdered Drood, the audience
is asked to pick between these alter
nate endings, incorporating not only
an exciting sense of crowd partici
pation, but the presentational acting
style of the time peritxl.
In temis of a vision for this show,
this production takes an interesting
historical look at British music hall
entertainment, mirroring the influ
ence of Dickens’ time period
through the nostalgic sense of audi
ence participation and relationship
with the actors.
Sabo says that in addition to this
historical glimpse at the different
acting styles, she wanted a chal
lenge for the actors involved.
With Elon students like Andrew
Frace as The Chairman, Rob
Mamell as John Jasper, John
Kemodle ,as The Reverend Mr.
Crisparkle, Brandon Talley and
Ashley Hunter as the Landless twins
and Kelsey Tucker as Edwin Drood,
these leads are nothing short of tal
ented.
While these particular students
demonstrate fine acting, it is the 26
member cast that brings this melo-
driunatic slapstick comedy to life.
Through challenging acting roles
and techniques, these actors throw
themselves into a stimulating range
of ballet to showbiz production
numbers and amazing period cos
tumes that really make this “play
within a play” believable.
Along with an amazing set
design by Dale Becherer, the audi
ence is transported from the differ
ent shifts in the production through
various lighting effects, making it
hard not to get involved.
As if the acting talent, complex
dance sequences, intricate set design
and costume were not enough to
make you want to come to this
show, the aspect of audience partic
ipation and comedy should be more
than ample reason.
Contact Virginia Galvez at pen-
dulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.
Showbiz
Briefs
• Paris Flilton and Nicole Richie
have signed on to do a second sea
son of their reality show “The
Simple Life.” The show will have
a new format - this time the girls
will be taking a roadtrip. Auditions
for host families begin this week
end.
• The suit filed against Janet
Jackson and Justin Timbcrlalie
has been dropped. Terri Carlin of
Tennessee had sued the performers
for billions of dollars after their
flashy stunt at the Superbowl half-
time show.
• Justin Timberlake is slated to
star with Morgan Freeman,
Kevin Spacey and LL Cool J in
the film “Edison” which begins
filming next month. The singer
will play a reporter who uncovers a
corrapt police force.
• Norah Jones, last year’s
Grammy winner for Best New
Artist, released her sophomore
album “Feels Like Home” this
Tuesday. Unlike her first, jazzy
album “Come Away With Me,” the
new record is being called “coun
trified.”