Line #2 YMMV/Drood


1	!!The musical provides examples of:
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3	* AlternateCharacterInterpretation:
4	** The whole point of the show. Is Rosa Bud as [[TheIngenue innocent]] as she seems? Is Crisparkle a SinisterMinister? Are Jasper and Neville {{Subverted}} [[RedHerring Red Herrings]]? In the former's case, [[spoiler: this rarely applies]]. Is Helena a straight NiceGirl or a {{Deconstruction}} of selfless characters? Is Princess Puffer a heroic detective or investigating a case she's already a part of? Is Durdles PluckyComicRelief or is his happy go lucky attitude masking something? And is Bazzard just a small, unexceptional part, or in actuality, the centerpiece of the entire story? And then there's the matter of one of these suspects investigating the case to save the day.
5	* AngstWhatAngst: [[spoiler: Drood sure doesn't seem to hold a grudge over his attempted murderers]].
6	* AwardCategoryFraud: Both Broadway productions saw John Jasper's actor (Howard [=McGillin=] and Will Chase respectively) nominated for a Tony in the Featured Actor category. This is despite Jasper being about the most prominent character alongside the Tony winning role of the Chairman, and unlike all the other suspects [[spoiler: with the exclusion of the FinalLoveDuet, he always gets to perform all of his written material every show]]. This is even more noticeable since Cleo Laine was nominated for playing Princess Puffer in the original and Stephanie J. Block was nominated for playing Drood in the revival, both women placed in lead, even though their parts are clearly smaller than that of [=McGillin=] and Chase. The original run's Drama Desk record saw [=McGillin=] nominated in the lead category where he lost to George Rose for playing the Chairman. It also saw Featured Actress Tony nominee Patti Cohenour as Rosa Bud nominated in lead alongside Cleo Laine.
7	* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Quite a few examples actually.
8	** "There You Are" is a highly energetic that perfectly sets up the rest of the fun that will follow throughout the evening.
9	** "A Man Can Go Quite Mad" is such an excellent solo and intro for John Jasper that you'll be left scratching your head when you realize it's an optional song.
10	** "Two Kinsmen" is a suitably valiant duet for the ShowWithinAShow's leading man and woman, allowing both Jasper and Drood indulge in a good bit of belting.
11	** "Moonfall" rightfully earns it's many reprises by being a damn creepy piece contrasted with Rosa's innocent soprano. Also of note is the quartet that plays shortly afterwards adding Helena and two ensemble members to sing alongside Miss Bud in perfect and unnerving harmony.
12	** "The Wages of Sin" is a perfect start to Princess Puffer's time onstage, allowing a charismatic actress to build up a great rapport with the audience, culminating in her getting the whole theatre to help her finish the number off.
13	** Both "Ceylon" and "A British Subject" are great duets for the Landless twins, especially when they're combined together like in the Broadway revival. The latter gets bonus points for giving Crisparkle some extra solo time while also exploring the bigotry Neville and Helena face.
14	** "Both Sides of the Coin" is a major highlight for it's wacky lyrics and super fast speed, which only increases by the end. If Jasper and the Chairman pull it off, they're sure to get quite a hand.
15	** "Perfect Strangers" really a stands out amidst all the over the top antics present in elsewhere, being emotional, bittersweet, and lovely.
16	** "No Good Can Come From Bad" is a truly excellent MassiveMultiplayerEnsembleNumber, with all the moving pieces coming Drood, Jasper, Rosa, Neville, Helena, Crisparkle, and Bazzard as the waiter making for a thrilling piece that'll make it hard to choose which of the soloist you want as your murderer.
17	** "Never the Luck" is a wonderful moment, giving the under appreciated Bazzard his chance to be in the spotlight, with a hugely endearing number where he belts out high notes, pulls off [[LargeHam hammy impressions]], and dances with the rest of the cast in a way that'll have the the audience left as putty in his hand.
18	** "Off to the Races" is a jaunty vaudevillian tune that'll put a big smile on your face as you watch the Chairman and Durdles' antics combined with the opportunity for some impressive dancing. "An English Music Hall" also does a great job of replicating this infectious spirit.
19	** "Setting Up the Score" allows Puffer and Datchery to simultaneously hold our attention with their separate, yet similar searches for the truth about Drood.
20	** "The Name of Love/Moonfall Reprise" stands high in the score for being such an incredibly epic and operatic moment of gripping confrontation and some major and intense BelligerentSexualTension between Jasper and Rosa, letting both of them show off some damn fine pipes. After being preceded by the much lighter recent songs, it's almost shocking how dramatic and awesome it is.
21	** "Don't Quit While You're Ahead" is pretty much one big old last hurrah before the show moves onto it's signature voting, allowing every single principle actor to join in for a victorious and grandiose moment that rightfully scores the number an immediate reprise, which in turn results in one of the night's biggest laughs.
22	** After all the voting, "A Garden Path to Hell" sucks the audience back into the real drama with Puffer delivering one of the most genuinely emotional and heartfelt moments of the show that also helps reveal her mysterious past, and sticks out as one last quiet moment before the plot then really gets crazy afterwards.
23	** "Out on a Limerick" makes for an excellent showcase for whoever was selected as Datchery, letting them hog the spotlight to boast of their brilliant detective work before calling the murderer forward.
24	** Every single one of the murderer confessions act as a big old showstopper, letting an audience favorite have one last moment to steal the show by unfolding their dastardly actions in a way that's sure to generate a euphoric response from the audience and even the rest of the cast.
25	** The "Perfect Strangers" reprise with the newly voted lovers takes and already great song and adds a new hilarious touch with it due to two more than likely {{Corpsing}} and [[ThrowItIn ad libbing]] cast members who have just been StrangledByTheRedString.
26	** "The Writing on the Wall" is a suitable ending with [[spoiler: Drood's out of nowhere reappearance]] being quite a GainaxEnding, but one of high spirit that closes the whole thing out a great and literal high note.
27	* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Both the songs "Never The Luck" and "Off To The Races" come out of nowhere and add nothing to the plot, and neither does "Wages of Sin." It was just a popular song for Angela Prysock. However, since "Never The Luck" is Bazzard's IWantSong, it does serve some relevance if Bazzard is chosen as the detective or the murderer, as his motives call back to that song.
28	* CaptainObviousReveal:
29	** It is possible for John Jasper to actually be voted the murderer, and as he's insane and lusts over Edwin's fiancee for the entire show, it makes the most sense. It's also reportedly [[spoiler:the intended ending for the source material]]. Most audience members avoid voting for Jasper ''because'' it's so obvious, so most shows have his attempted murder and VillainSong remain a simple RedHerring before the ''real'' murderer is revealed; the Chairman even points out that if if Jasper ''did'' commit the crime, then it isn't much of a mystery.
30	** Neville being the murderer is another possible choice for the murderer, and since he actively antagonizes Edwin and threatens his life, it's really not unexpected. Because it's so obvious, he's an even less popular choice for the murderer than Jasper -- his sister was [[https://www.playbill.com/article/they-dunnit-tallies-are-in-for-most-popular-drood-killers-closing-night-surprises-too-com-203296 more than twice as frequently voted the murderer in the revived Broadway production]].
31	* CrackPairing: The 2013 Broadway revival album includes the "Perfect Strangers" reprise, whose participants are selected by the audience each night. Setting aside the fact that the evening's murderer is ineligible as they've already been clapped off in irons, there are 21 possible combinations (three women and seven men). How did those in charge of recording the album decide to work in this song? By dividing the lines up among three of the ''crackiest pairings possible'': [[MayDecemberRomance Deputy & Puffer]], [[BrotherSisterIncest Neville & Helena]], and [[AllGirlsWantBadBoys Durdles & Rosa]]. They knew their audience.
32	* CultClassic: Thought never regarded as a classic and very much an acquired taste for many, the show's quirky concept and meta humor has earned it a small but dedicated fanbase. It didn't win Best Musical for nothing you know.
33	* DracoInLeatherPants: Jasper, on and off the stage. The script even mocks the idea of choosing such an "obvious" culprit for the murderer, and [[spoiler:includes a FakeOut confession song even if he isn't picked.]]
34	* EnsembleDarkhorse: The show is basically a competition for the actors to become the audience favorite and get their votes.
35	** Special mention goes to [[ClassicallyTrainedExtra Bazzard]], who's the second smallest principle role and clearly the least important of them all plot wise, [[LampshadeHanging with the show itself]] [[ButtMonkey repeatedly reminding him of this]]. But [[LargeHam his shamelessly hammy antics]] [[TheWoobie in search of a larger role]] often endears him to the audience, causing him to be a major beneficiary of the voting. Rupert Holmes noted that Bazzard is the most popular the potential Datcherys.
36	* EvilIsCool: John Jasper is a creepy loon, but there's certainly a level of stylishness in his plotting, and he gets some of the coolest music in the show.
37	* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments:
38	** Ensemble member Bazzard getting to perform a solo number much to his delight. Even more heartwarming is if the audience votes for him to be one of the lovers, Datchery, and especially the murderer. In fact, Rupert Holmes has noted that Bazzard is constantly a voting winner, especially for Datchery.
39	** While it's not truly linked to their characters like Bazzard and they have larger roles in the InUniverse [[ShowWithinAShow play]] (though Bazzard is a larger part than Durdles in the actual show) Crisparkle and Durdles getting voted murderer is heartwarming since it allows both to get a solo number after only singing in ensemble numbers or other people's songs throughout the show. Same goes for when Crisparkle gets to play Datchery, and even though it's a much shorter number, when either of them or the ensemble member playing the deputy gets to be one of the two lovers.
40	** While they're all very blatant cases of StrangledByTheRedString, the lovers duet near the end can still be just as sweet as they are funny.
41	** In general, the voting is fairly heartwarming since it's essentially rewarding the actors for doing a good job, and the winners always get a great hand, especially whoever win the murderer vote.
42	* JerkassWoobie:
43	** Neville Landless is as HotBlooded as they come, being all to quick to get into conflict, garnering him a problematic reputation. However, it's clear that he's had a rough life, having [[AbusiveParents a bastard of a stepfather]], facing racial prejudice in his new home, and instantly falling for Rosa Bud, who is engaged to Edwin Drood. The last point is especially bad for Neville since Drood is quite InnocentlyInsensitive towards Neville's culture, later straight up dropping the innocent part. Then, when Drood is missing and assumed dead, Neville is attacked and nearly arrested by the police with no definitive evidence. And even if he's voted the murderer and the near arrest is technically justified, it's still clearly motivated by racism and [[spoiler: John Jasper's machinations]]. Not only that, but in a different scenario, Neville can [[spoiler: be framed by an additional attempted murderer in the form of Bazzard]]. [[ThrowTheDogABone Luckily for Neville]], in the end he can find himself a free man and even wind up becoming lovers with Rosa. [[{{Squick}} Or his sister]].
44	** John Jasper is a [[StalkerWithACrush lust crazed loon]] and [[spoiler: attempted murderer who tries to frame a [[MultipleEndings possibly]] innocent man]] but he also suffers from a rather nasty SplitPersonality, with a good man being trapped underneath his vile actions. Additionally, while his actions towards Rosa are certainly quite villainous, Jasper's also shown to be in suffering over them, with the man at one point begging for her love and claiming that he himself is a victim enslaved by his love for her. In the end though, [[ThrowTheDogABone Jasper can wind up getting a bone thrown his way]], and have Rosa finally reciprocate his feelings, or even move on from her and get together with a different lover.
45	** In the case of both Jasper and Neville, their suffering can get even worse, as while both can see themselves finally get together with Rosa at the end, they can also lose out on her to another party, with such options as a drunken slob [[spoiler: who may have just gotten Neville caught as the murderer]], an old priest who just so happens to be Neville's guardian and Jasper's friend, and the deputy who sucker punched Jasper and tried to lock Neville up. Not to mention each other, Neville likely wouldn't care for [[spoiler: the man who framed him]] become a couple with Rosa, and Jasper wouldn't be too happy to see [[spoiler: the man he used to get his love]] get together with her instead.
46	* LoveToHate: Whoever gets elected as the murderer applies, as the entire reason they get into that role is because they were an audience favorite, meaning that their big VillainSong will get quite a hand. Also points to Jasper whose an enjoyably nasty piece of work regardless of the vote.
47	* OneTrueThreesome: In one show of the Broadway revival, Jasper and Helena were voted as the lovers. Then during their duet, which can thankfully be found on [=YouTube=] the former closed the latter's eyes, dragged Rosa over and had the two of them kiss in front of him before both women then leaped onto Jasper and smothered him with smooches. The crowd's reaction was nothing short of pure ecstatic bliss.
48	* StrangledByTheRedString: PlayedForLaughs with all the lover pairings, which come out of nowhere (in some cases between characters who don't share a single line) and make little sense, but are just so funny that they stand out as one of the musical's highlights.
49	* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter:
50	** While the titular character's actress gets plenty to do, she's unfortunately a nonentity during the show's signature voting, excluding one moment scripted vote that she always loses out on.
51	*** Interestingly enough, the show's early workshops had [[spoiler: Drood sing "The Writing on the Wall" before the lovers vote]] letting Drood (and Mayor Sapsea!) contend for that vote.
52	** Sadly, some actors, especially in limited runs, rarely or even never get chosen as murderer, detective, or lover. The show tries to present each role fairly during voting though to avert this.
53	* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: An attempted [[{{Averted}} aversion]], as the show highly advises against [[spoiler: voting for Jasper, under the guise that he's too obvious a suspect, but mostly because he gets to perform his confession no matter who gets the most votes, so that way, the audience gets to enjoy two confessions]]. Additionally, it's been said that in the rare cases where [[spoiler: Jasper]] wins the vote, the production will usually [[spoiler: have the runner up perform their confession anyway]]. If however, a show has [[spoiler: Jasper win the vote]] and the production decides to go by this vote, then the audience will be robbed or an extra twist [[spoiler: and confession]].
54	* TheWoobie: It goes without saying that any example becomes a JerkassWoobie if voted as the murderer.
55	** A comedic but still valid example with Bazzard, or more specifically, his actor; Philip Bax, whose eternally stuck in small, thankless roles, longing for a larger part. How bad are his parts? He played "the title role" in Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing. [[ThrowTheDogABone Thankfully, he gets a chance to perform his own solo number, and the audience can make it so that he gets an even bigger part to play later on]].
56	** Rosa Bud certainly applies. Stuck in a ForcedMarriage to someone that she may have been able to love, but can't understand the circumstances. Even worse is she finds herself stuck in two different [[LoveTriangle love triangles]], with one being with highly possessive and awful John Jasper, a man who utterly terrifies her. [[ThrowTheDogABone She can finally find an apparently good relationship if voted as a lover in the end]].
57	** Helena Landless [[AbusiveParents suffered from her a physically abusive stepfather]], which got so bad she once even disguised her gender to escape from his cruelty. Finally rid of him, she now faces prejudice in her new home. Not only that, she has to see her HotBlooded brother Neville set himself up for conflict that she knows can only end poorly. And making matters even worse, she has to see her new friend Rosa in suffering from the same dramatic plot. [[ThrowTheDogABone Depending on how things play out though]], Helena and her loved ones can make it out of the show alright and she herself can even help prove Neville's innocence.
58	** The Reverend Crisparkle was very much in love with Rosa Bud's mother but lost her to another man and not long after that, she lost her life. Years later he's still broken up about it, which is only exacerbated by seeing Rosa who bears a striking resemblance to his former love. Then, Crisparkle also sees his new apprentice and friend Neville become the number one suspect in the search of Edwin Drood's murderer. [[ThrowTheDogABone By the end though]], Crisparkle himself can prove Neville's innocence and/or finally get over his LostLenore with a new love.
59	** The Princess Puffer is revealed to be this during "The Garden Path to Hell" where she tells Rosa how she was once in love with a man who then took advantage of her and pushed her into a life of selling herself. [[ThrowTheDogABone If it's any consolation]], in the end she can find a man who actually loves her by the end.
60	** Durdles will count if he's chosen as the murderer. [[spoiler: As he points out, he's essentially forced into this role by the audience, as there's no reason why he would ever want to kill Drood]]. And unlike every other potential murderer, he's really not even a JerkassWoobie, as [[spoiler: he only ever attacks Drood because in his drunken stupor he mistook him for an attacking spirit, meaning that his crime was [[AccidentalMurder purely accidental]]]].
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62	!!The book provides examples of:
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64	* NightmareFuel: A fair portion of the book, but [[spoiler:the scarab Drood puts in Wilkie's chest]] and the spirits (or [[EldritchAbomination whatever]] [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness they]] [[UnreliableNarrator are]]) that live in Wilkie's house, particularly Other Wilkie, are probably the shining examples.

Context YMMV / Drood