EAST HADDAM — Pure joy. That’s what is currently appearing on stage at the Goodspeed Opera House in the form of its current production, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Director Rob Ruggiero has brought this good old-fashioned musical comedy to vibrant life on the Goodspeed stage.

In 1985, the Public Theater in NYC turned to composer Rupert Holmes (author of “Escape [The Pina Colada Song”]) to adapt the lesser-known Charles Dickens novel into a musical for its New York Shakespeare Festival. There was one caveat: the novel did not have an ending.

Dickens died before finishing it. Holmes’s solution was to let the audience decide. That production was led by Broadway legends Betty Buckley (as the title character) and Cleo Laine.

Using the meta framing device of a bawdy English Music Hall show within a show, Drood tells the story of young Edwin Drood (Mamie Parris) who goes missing and presumed dead. A madcap musical whodunnit ensues with a host of suspects, each of them with secrets of their own.

From the opening moments of the show the audience knows they are in for a treat. Actors mingle about the theater engaging with patrons and each other, setting the tone for a delightful evening.

The evening is emceed by our humble Chairman (Lenny Wolpe). From the first notes of the show he has the audience in the palm of his hand. It’s a joy to watch this Broadway veteran effortlessly guide the audience on this journey. His duet with choir master John Jasper, “Both Sides of the Coin” is a highlight of the evening.

Speaking of Broadway veterans, the cast is swimming in talent. One would be hard pressed to find a show in recent memory that stronger and so well cast. Edwin Drood (or Alice Nutting, if you prefer) is brilliantly played by Mamie Parris, who gives Betty Buckley a run for her money.

Liz McCartney plays the aptly named purveyor of sin, Princess Puffer. Her comedic timing is spot on, not to mention her gorgeous voice.

On the theme of gorgeous voices, Riley Noland, who plays Drood’s betrothed, Rosa Bud, melts the audience with her solo number “Moonfall” as well as her duet with Drood, “Perfect Strangers.”

Every single cast member of this show is worth mentioning, but there is only so much available space, so special mentions also go out to David Beach, who plays Durdles, the not-quite-sober grave digger. He proved to be an audience favorite, especially when it came to voting during the finale.

Paul Adam Schaffer plays the choir master John Jasper with elegance, charm and a bit of John Cleese-like comedic timing. Showing off their comedy chops are also Jetta Juriansz and Levin Valayil as brother and sister duo Helena and Neville Landless.

While the cast stands on its own, much credit must also be given to Director Rob Ruggiero. This is a difficult show to pull off, with its multiple layers and tone, and Ruggiero has knocked it out of the park. If there wasn’t such a recent Broadway revival, one would hope this production would transfer after its run, so that more audiences could get in on the fun.

Major kudos also go to Ann Beyersdorfer for her brilliant scenic design. The historic Goodspeed Opera House is the perfect setting for this type of show and Beyersdorfer leaned into that idea incorporating the already beautiful theater design into the set itself. Costumes by Hunter Kaczorowski and wigs by Tommy Kurzman were some of the best Goodspeed has had to offer in the last few seasons.

In an uncertain and sometimes depressing world, there is no better escape — no pun intended — than seeing The Mystery of Edwin Drood at The Goodspeed Opera House.

Performances continue to June 2. Tickets and more information can be found at goodspeed.org.