Any devotee of live theatre understands that the magic of a show is found in the communion between the theatre makers and the audience. The audience’s belief makes a show possible, their energy sustains it, and their applause affirms it.

But in some rare cases, the audience is given unique opportunities to participate in the proceedings. So it is with Westside Players’ current production: The Mystery of Edwin Drood, directed by Pocatello theatre luminary Geoffrey Bennett. 

The Mystery of Edwin Drood is adapted from the final novel of legendary British writer Charles Dickens, which centers on the mysterious disappearance (and presumed murder) of the titular character. Since Dickens died before he could finish the novel, the musical adopts an ingenious device for concluding the story: put the ending to an audience vote. That’s right. In the second act of the musical, the live audience votes, and the cast performs their chosen ending. It’s an irresistible gimmick, but calling it a gimmick understates how the script and Bennett’s direction invite the audience to play along. 

No small part of this welcoming and convivial atmosphere is Bennett’s cast, a who’s who of Pocatello theatre talent from across the community.

Jarom Luker is quickly becoming a familiar sight on the Westside stage. Here, he’s tasked with the most difficult role in the show: the audience-addressing Chairman, who acts as a narrator for the proceedings. Luker’s got to keep it all straight while delivering the musical theatre goods, and he’s to be commended for keeping the show on rails.

The titular Edwin Drood is played with great gusto by Aubrianna Resendes, who also turns up in a hilarious alternate role later in the show. Emma Whaley Manska plays the ingenue role as Drood’s reluctant bride-to-be, Rosa Bud, and her impressive soprano skills, as well as her acting talents, are showcased in “Moonfall,” a ballad composed for Bud by her sinister music master, John Jasper. The villainous Jasper is portrayed by Bradley Gray. He’s successfully cast against type here, and his gorgeous voice is, as ever, a highlight of the show.

Chloe Hill and Aaron Judd are both delights as the Landless siblings, exuding mystery, menace, and ambiguously European accents. Catherine Barker is well-suited to her role as the Princess Puffer; her powerful stage presence and confidence encourage the audience to relax and have fun.

Andre Sovich is similarly crowd-pleasing in his turn as the perpetually drunk Nick Cricker, Sr., and Sebastian Doren gets a charming showcase in “Never the Luck” as Bazzard, an actor hoping for a more prominent role. Drood audiences will also get to experience a too-rare delight in watching Trent Clegg, frequently employed as a musical director, on stage! He’s immediately captivating as the protective Reverend Crisparkle.

And that’s just the featured roles! Every single member of Bennett’s cast gets a moment to shine–for instance, Marnie Keyes’ excitement at performing “Off to the Races” is palpable, which is both a credit to them and their director.

The technical elements of the show are also a lot of fun; creating a proscenium with a curtain is a rarely-seen and thus impactful look for the Westside stage. Mood lighting is well-deployed throughout the performance, but the visual standout is the scene-changing projections hand-drawn by artist Kate Brown. 

“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” is a true musical-theatre curio. If you’re a fan of the art form, you’ll owe it to yourself to check out this one-of-a-kind show. The play runs through the first weekend of May at Westside Players.