Woods Cross High School finished up their run of The Mystery of Edwin Drood last week. The Bountiful Forum was invited to attend a show Thursday night, and also to sit in on an evaluation from the Utah High School Musical Theater Awards.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a funny and unusual musical. Based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens, the story follows the love life and disappearance of young Edwin Drood and the mystery surrounding what happened to him.
But here is where the twist gets fun: Dickens never finished the original novel, dying before he could complete it. So halfway through the production, the stage version turns the audience into detectives. Audience members are invited to vote on key elements of the story, including who the killer is and how the mystery ultimately ends. The result is a playful, interactive production filled with twists, comedy, and theatrical flair.
The Woods Cross cast did an excellent job delivering the show. The cast embraced the musical’s over-the-top humor and clever dialogue, and the audience and I laughed out loud throughout the entire show. The production’s interactive nature kept the audience involved, making the experience feel fresh and unpredictable.
What stood out most for me in their performance was how much effort was put into this show. Liz Christensen, theater teacher at Woods Cross High School, told me the students had spent hours and hours preparing for the production. But even if she hadn’t said that, it would have been clear. From the energetic performances to the careful attention to staging and timing, a great deal of rehearsal and dedication went into bringing the production to life. High school theater often shines because of the passion behind it, and that passion was on full display here.
By the end of the evening, the audience had not only enjoyed a clever mystery but also witnessed a group of young performers who clearly care about their craft. Their enthusiasm and hard work made The Mystery of Edwin Drood a fun and memorable night at the theater.
Utah High School Musical Theater Awards Evaluation
At the end of the night, the cast of Edwin Drood sat down with a pair of judges from the Utah High School Musical Theater Awards. And the judges had high praise for the show.
The judges had plenty of praise for the production, beginning with the technical elements of the show. They highlighted the costumes and set design, and said they especially enjoyed the use of thematic lighting. They also gave credit to the students operating the lights, noting how effectively the lighting helped support the story on stage.
When it came to the performances, the judges were impressed with the strength of the cast’s vocals. They praised the many strong singers in the production, noting that the performers projected excellent volume even without microphones. They also pointed out the quality of the harmonies, saying the musical numbers sounded strong and well-balanced.
The judges also commented on how cohesive the cast was as a whole. They said the performers worked very well together and created a strong ensemble on stage. They particularly liked how the actors presented their characters, bringing them to life with clear personalities. Several performers were also recognized for handling large amounts of dialogue and for smoothly switching between different characters throughout the show.
One piece of advice the judges offered involved the show’s frequent breaking of the fourth wall. Because the production invites interaction with the audience, they encouraged the cast to lean into those moments even more and make the distinction between those scenes and the rest of the performance clearer.
Their final note to the cast was simple: be bolder. They encouraged the performers to push their choices further and take full advantage of the show’s comedic and theatrical opportunities.
