'The Mystery of Edwin Drood': To all a good show

• New revival features splendid cast directed by Scott Ellis
• Chita Rivera plays a saucy opium merchant named Princess Puffer
• The performers begin working the crowd before the curtain

NEW YORK -- It's surely no coincidence that the Roundabout Theatre Company's delightful revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood (* * * 1/2 out of four stars) opened on Broadway in November, just as the original did 27 years ago.

Rupert Holmes' cheery, cheeky musical, inspired by the novel of the title, which Charles Dickens left unfinished when he died in 1870, features a play within a play that begins just before Christmas. But more to the point, Drood captures the spirit of the season -- though not in a way you'd associate with Hallmark cards or Nativity scenes.

Instead, drawing heavily on the English music hall tradition -- Drood is set in late-19th century London, at the fictional Music Hall Royale -- it combines raucous comedy, lush tunes and audience participation to create a festive atmosphere in which life is celebrated, even if death is integral to the plot. In the tale portrayed by the Royale players, Drood, a young man with seemingly everything to live for -- including a babe-alicious fiancee named Rosa Bud -- disappears on a stormy night; it is left to theatergoers to determine, at the show's end, which of the other motley and in some cases shady characters did him in.

In the new production, now at Studio 54, the performers begin working the crowd before the curtain, strolling through the aisles to bid everyone welcome and encourage them to enjoy themselves. The prodding is hardly necessary; under Scott Ellis's witty, spirited direction, two and a half hours fly by as they would at a rollicking party.

The cast is uniformly excellent, but the sublime Jim Norton deserves special credit: As the troupe's chairman, the veteran character actor is an ideal master of ceremonies, engaging both his colleagues and viewers with the distinctly wry charm that has made him a trans-Atlantic treasure.

There are other standouts, among them Stephanie J. Block, who appears as the troupe's "leading male impersonator, and diva, cast as Drood. The dual role not only showcases Block's strong, supple voice -- a high point of a few lesser musicals in recent years -- but also allows her to reveal a mischievous sense of humor. Similarly, Jessie Mueller, whose silvery soprano has drawn due praise in previous productions, emerges as a superb comedienne in the parts of a "fiery" actress and her character, exotic orphan Helena Landless.

Andy Karl and Will Chase glower and wink deftly as the actors who play, respectively, Helena's brother Neville and Drood's scheming uncle, John Jasper, both of whom have the hots for Rosa. Betsy Wolfe looks and sounds appropriately fetching as Rosa, and the rather less demure actress who portrays her.

The enduringly vibrant presence of Chita Rivera -- clearly having a grand old time as a feisty old trouper and a saucy opium merchant named Princess Puffer -- is a bonus, as are Anna Louizos's piquant sets and William Ivey Long's sumptuous period costumes, which can suggest especially playful figurines on a Christmas tree.

Don't be surprised if you find yourself cheering, or jeering, out loud by the end; like a zippy eggnog, this Drood urges us to loosen our inhibitions. You only live once, after all.