Einstein Brings a Little Democracy to the Stage

Most actors, to prepare for a show, must learn their lines, their lyrics and their marks.

The cast of 's however, has to be prepared for one of about 400 possible variations of the musical each night, actor Jason Guerrero said.

"I did the math, and you could actually do the show every day for more than a year without repeating it," he said.

That's because "Drood" hinges on audience participation — the crowd gets to vote on who falls in love with whom, who's a secret detective and who, of course, is a murderer. 

The musical, which won five Tony Awards after its 1985 opening, is an irreverent take on Charles Dickens's unfinished final novel. It's a play-within-a-play, in which the actors play members of a rag-tag London theater troupe putting on the democratic production.

Because of the variable plot, the actors have to stay on their toes night in and night out, said Sarah McCully, who plays Rosa Bud, the title character's love interest.

"We have to be flexible as actors," she said. "It's easy to forget lines when the story changes, so you can expect lots of ad-libbing."

But that's all part of the show. Stagehands finish up sets as actors start songs and bicker to complete the feel of sitting in a dingy English theater.

Julia Timko, who plays Edwin Drood, said the show's distressed damsels and sneering villains are at least half the fun.

"It's a melodrama, after all," she said. "Everything is over the top."

The show premieres tonight at 7 p.m., and continues Nov. 12, 18 and 19 at the same time. Tickets are $7 for students and kids, and $10 for adults. You can purchase them online at ShowTix4U.com or at the door.