The Mystery of Edwin Drood

The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the final novel by Charles Dickens. The novel was left unfinished at the time of Dickens' death, and readers have often speculated what the ending might have been. The novel is named after Edwin Drood, but it mostly tells the story of his uncle, a Jekyll-and-Hyde-esque choirmaster named John Jasper, who is in love with his pupil, Rosa Bud. Miss Bud is Drood's fiance, and has caught the eye of the high spirited and hot tempered Neville Landless, who comes from Ceylon with his twin sister, Helena, and immediately makes an enemy of Drood. In the musical version (see below) all of these, along with the Reverend Crisparkle, whom the Landless twins live with, a mysterious opium dealer called only the Princess Puffer, and Rosa's guardian's servant, Mister Bazzard, are all considered possible suspects.

Related Topics:
Novel - Charles Dickens

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was filmed in 1935 by Universal Pictures. Directed by Stuart Walker, it starred Claude Rains, Douglass Montgomery, Heather Angel, Valerie Hobson and David Manners.

Related Topics:
1935 - Universal Pictures - Directed - Stuart Walker - Claude Rains - Douglass Montgomery - Heather Angel - Valerie Hobson - David Manners

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A musical comedy adaptation by Rupert Holmes (later renamed Drood) was first produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival. It opened on Broadway in 1985 and has since played successfully in regional productions. The audience votes which of the characters is the murderer: brief alternate endings are provided for each potential killer, even the most unlikely. Betty Buckley, Cleo Laine, George Rose, Donna Murphy, Judy Kuhn, and Howard McGillin were in the cast.

Related Topics:
Rupert Holmes - New York Shakespeare Festival - Broadway - 1985 - Betty Buckley - Cleo Laine - George Rose - Donna Murphy - Judy Kuhn - Howard McGillin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~