Charles Dickens meets Choose Your Own Adventure in a new production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Fighting Chance Productions is staging the musical from Feb. 18 to March 3 at the Metro Theatre in Vancouver.
Burnaby actors Gordon Bruce and Spencer Fisher join the cast for this production of the Tony Award-winning musical by Rupert Holmes. It brings to life the unfinished whodunit by Charles Dickens - and gives the audience a chance to decide how each night's performance will end.
"We're excited to explore as many different outcomes as possible," said director Ryan Mooney.
The outcome is decided by audience vote at intermission.
"You can watch our production every night and see a different ending each and every time," Mooney said. "It's musical theatre at its most dazzling and organic."
Though it's based on Dickens' bleak Victorian novel, the musical puts a lighthearted spin on the story - kicking off when the Music Hall Royale stages its flamboyant rendition of the unfinished Dickens mystery.
The story deals with John Jasper, a Jekyll-and-Hyde choirmaster who is in love with his student, Miss Rosa Bud, who is in turn engaged to Jasper's nephew, Edwin Drood. Drood disappears one stormy Christmas Eve - but it's up to the audience and the actors to decide if he's been murdered and who may have killed him.
"February 2012 marks 200 years since the birth of Charles Dickens," Mooney pointed out. "I can't think actor of a better way to celebrate Dickens' birthday than by engaging with the final characters he created."
Bruce and Fisher are both featured in the ensemble.
The production stars Alex McMorran as John Jasper, Jennifer Doan as Rosa Bud, Sarah Wolfman-Robichaud as Drood, Jack Rigg as the Chairman, Alfonso Banzon as Neville Landless, Emma Rendell as Helena Landless, Mike Wild as Rev. Crisparkle, Linda Leong Sum as Princess Puffer, Chris Lam as Bazzard, James Walker as Durdles and Jesse Setka as the Deputy.
Musical direction is by Vashti Fairbairn, with choreography by Dawn Ewen.
Metro Theatre is at 1370 Southwest Marine Dr. Tickets range from $10 to $30. Buy at the door, through www.tickets tonight.ca or by calling 604-684-2787.
For more about the production, check out www.fightingchanceproductions.ca.
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