The whole point of the show. Is Rosa Bud as innocent as she seems? Is Crisparkle a Sinister Minister? Are Jasper and Neville SubvertedRed Herrings? In the former's case, this rarely applies. Is Helena a straight Nice Girl or a Deconstruction of selfless characters? Is Princess Puffer a heroic detective or investigating a case she's already a part of? Is Durdles Plucky Comic Relief 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.
Angst? What Angst?: Drood sure doesn't seem to hold a grudge over his attempted murderers.
Award Category Fraud: 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 with the exclusion of the Final Love Duet, 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.
"There You Are" is a highly energetic that perfectly sets up the rest of the fun that will follow throughout the evening.
"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.
"Two Kinsmen" is a suitably valiant duet for the Show Within a Show's leading man and woman, allowing both Jasper and Drood indulge in a good bit of belting.
"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.
"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.
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.
"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.
"Perfect Strangers" really a stands out amidst all the over the top antics present in elsewhere, being emotional, bittersweet, and lovely.
"No Good Can Come From Bad" is a truly excellent Massive Multiplayer Ensemble Number, 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.
"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 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.
"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.
"Setting Up the Score" allows Puffer and Datchery to simultaneously hold our attention with their separate, yet similar searches for the truth about Drood.
"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 Belligerent Sexual Tension 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.
"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.
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.
"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.
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.
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 ad libbing cast members who have just been Strangled by the Red String.
"The Writing on the Wall" is a suitable ending with Drood's out of nowhere reappearance being quite a Gainax Ending, but one of high spirit that closes the whole thing out a great and literal high note.
Big-Lipped Alligator Moment: 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 "I Want" Song, it does serve some relevance if Bazzard is chosen as the detective or the murderer, as his motives call back to that song.
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 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 Villain Song remain a simple Red Herring 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.
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 more than twice as frequently voted the murderer in the revived Broadway production.
Crack Pairing: 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: Deputy & Puffer, Neville & Helena, and Durdles & Rosa. They knew their audience.
Cult Classic: 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.
Draco in Leather Pants: Jasper, on and off the stage. The script even mocks the idea of choosing such an "obvious" culprit for the murderer, and includes a Fake Out confession song even if he isn't picked.
Ensemble Dark Horse: The show is basically a competition for the actors to become the audience favorite and get their votes.
Evil Is Cool: 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.
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.
While it's not truly linked to their characters like Bazzard and they have larger roles in the In-Universeplay (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.
While they're all very blatant cases of Strangled by the Red String, the lovers duet near the end can still be just as sweet as they are funny.
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.
Neville Landless is as Hot-Blooded 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 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 Innocently Insensitive 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 John Jasper's machinations. Not only that, but in a different scenario, Neville can be framed by an additional attempted murderer in the form of Bazzard. Luckily for Neville, in the end he can find himself a free man and even wind up becoming lovers with Rosa. Or his sister.
John Jasper is a lust crazed loon and attempted murderer who tries to frame a possibly innocent man but he also suffers from a rather nasty Split Personality, 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, 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.
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 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 the man who framed him become a couple with Rosa, and Jasper wouldn't be too happy to see the man he used to get his love get together with her instead.
Love to Hate: 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 Villain Song will get quite a hand. Also points to Jasper whose an enjoyably nasty piece of work regardless of the vote.
One True Threesome: 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.
Strangled by the Red String: Played for Laughs 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.
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.
Interestingly enough, the show's early workshops had Drood sing "The Writing on the Wall" before the lovers vote letting Drood (and Mayor Sapsea!) contend for that vote.
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.
They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot: An attempted aversion, as the show highly advises against 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 Jasper wins the vote, the production will usually have the runner up perform their confession anyway. If however, a show has Jasper win the vote and the production decides to go by this vote, then the audience will be robbed or an extra twist and confession.
The Woobie: It goes without saying that any example becomes a Jerkass Woobie if voted as the murderer.
Helena Landless 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 Hot-Blooded 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. 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.
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. By the end though, Crisparkle himself can prove Neville's innocence and/or finally get over his Lost Lenore with a new love.
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. If it's any consolation, in the end she can find a man who actually loves her by the end.
Durdles will count if he's chosen as the murderer. 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 Jerkass Woobie, as he only ever attacks Drood because in his drunken stupor he mistook him for an attacking spirit, meaning that his crime was purely accidental.
The book provides examples of:
Nightmare Fuel: A fair portion of the book, but the scarab Drood puts in Wilkie's chest and the spirits (or whatevertheyare) that live in Wilkie's house, particularly Other Wilkie, are probably the shining examples.
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