Princess Puffer is joined by Dick Datchery to help solve the crime, as the Master of Ceremonies reminds the audience that they must pay attention to all of the clues. The second act begins six months later and Edwin is still missing. Jasper admits to Rosa that he loves her, but she ignores his advances and their heated debate leads to a reprise of the song he wrote for her, ‘Moonfall’. Neville is the first suspect and is arrested, before being later released.

Bazzard, the Detective’s assistant (who is given a small moment in the spotlight) finds Jasper’s bloodied coat and it is assumed that Drood has been murdered. On Christmas Day we find out that Edwin has gone missing. Edwin is followed by Neville to the river, borrowing Jasper’s coat. The next day they gather for a Christmas dinner where each character’s rivalries and motivations are revealed to the audience. They agree not to share the news until after Christmas. Edwin and Rosa are both worried about their upcoming wedding and decide to break off the engagement. Jasper visits the cemetery where he steals the key to the Mayor’s Wife’s tomb. The Mayor arrives and warns the audience that often things are not exactly what they may seem… Drood tells them about his plan to create a highway in the Egyptian desert, but Neville takes offence and it seems clear that the two are set to be rivals. The Reverend introduces Edwin to the Landless twins. The gravedigger Durdles enter to make a grave for the wife of Mayor, but the actor playing his assistant is too drunk to partake, and the Master of Ceremonies has to step in and take over. The next character to be introduced is Princess Puffer who runs an opium den – a venue that is frequented by Jasper.

It becomes obvious that Jasper is in love with her, along with Neville Landless, one of the orphans. As she sings, two orphans arrive and she faints as she hears the lustful lyrics contained within the song. Rosa is working at a seminary, and Jasper acts as her music teacher and has composed a song for her to perform for him. His nephew Edwin Drood (played by a female, Alice Nutting) arrives and tells his uncle about his upcoming marriage to Rosa Bud. We are introduced to John Jasper, a respectable member of London society who suffers from internal demons. The vulgar Master of Ceremonies encourages the audience to be loud and rowdy as everyone joins in on the opening number and the play within a play starts to unfold. The audience are told that they will play a part in deciding the outcome of the show. The travelling band of players explain to the audience that the novel was never finished by Charles Dickens, as he died before the mystery could be solved. The show opens onstage at London’s Music Hall Royale where the cast are preparing for their nightly version of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”.

Moonfall mystery of edwin drood lyrics