Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical isn’t exactly the story you remember from high school English class when you read Robert Louis Stevenson’s 19th C novella, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The core story is the same, where an inquisitive doctor delves into the two halves of man’s souls…the good vs. the evil…and experiments on himself. And there is still the sense of dread, the macabre, the horror, and the violence of the original, but there is also a bit more love as a number of female characters are included and Jekyll’s friends show their humanity as well.
Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical has a long history. Originally conceived for the stage by Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden, the musical has its book and lyrics from Leslie Bricusse with music by Frank Wildhorn. And this is a grand musical with most of the story told via 28 songs…this would be an opera if it were in Italian! LOL! But there are also 24 performers here who dominate the stage and provide a very thrilling indeed story of the macabre.
If you’ve read any of my previous reviews of plays at LCP, you know that they have a little jewel of a black box theater, with a stage probably 40 feet wide and maybe 25 feet deep and around 150 seats? So it is quite an intimate experience no matter what play is being presented but to support a cast of 24 singers/actors…particularly with 4 or 5 full company songs…is a real accomplishment of note for directors Breanne Brennan and Sandra Renick as well as choreographer Thom Cauley, and stage manager Lori Albers…that it all works so well and moves so smoothly in their compact home is a wonderful storytelling success. And set designer Chris Celetin has a very simple but versatile set. Backed by an evening view of a skyline implying a robust London in our background, the central feature converts from fountain, to hospital bed, to fireplace, to bordello bed, to finally, Dr. Jekyll’s lab…there is some smoke…but I didn’t catch any mirrors.
But it is time to delve into the characters. Of course the main character is Dr. Jekyll and his alter ego, Mr. Hyde. Is alter ego the correct word here? This role of course demands quite a bit from an actor, requiring any number of changes beyond a simple costume change. And Adrian Ford quite remarkably transitions from Jekyll to Hyde…through changes in posture, vocalizations, stature and personality. I am not quite sure how Ford manages all of this…going from the smooth lush voice for the songs belonging to the good doctor to the growls and screams of Hyde…but Ford has quite mastered it. Hopefully he can rest his voice and recover between performances.
And two of the changes from the novella include women who are in love with Dr. Jekyll. First is Alyssa Booton as Emma Carew, a very strong willed and independent woman who is engaged to Dr. Jekyll despite her father’s misgivings. But she affirms her right to choose her life partner over any parental obligations. And then there is Lucy Harris, a prostitute at the Red Rat, who is played by Jaime Nyland. Nyland also presents a strong willed character, at least on the surface, but emotionally unwilling or unable to remove herself from her surroundings, even when urged to leave by Jekyll and with funds he provides. She too loves the doctor for being a friend and comforter when she is injured by Hyde. Emma and Lucy have a very moving duet of sorts…more a song swap than a duet I guess…in the number, In His Eyes. This is an incredible piece and their voices will move right through you and enter your bones.
Three other characters of note are Gabriel John Utterson, an attorney and the best friend that Dr. Jekyll could ever hope to have. Bradley Wooten presents a very formal and effective lawyer Utterson at first, then he succumbs to some temptations, but rallies when the Jekyll/Hyde dichotomy starts to surface, despite having no idea how to solve the issue…until it is far too late. Andrew Byshenk is Sir Danvers Carew, Emma’s father, and a prominent citizen who supports Jekyll to a point but without much confidence…more out of love for his daughter as opposed to his own convictions. And John Rottier is Simon Stride, another prominent citizen who also loves Emma and tries to win her over up until the last minute. All three characters have prominent songs during the play and are dominant voices and clearly engaged in their songs and their characters.
What is quite remarkable are the numbers that involve the whole company or the group of Red Rat Girls. Not a note is out of place, everyone is in character, and they occupy the stage as one.
There is a live chamber group providing the instrumental accompaniment. And that is not an easy feat given the small footprint off the back corner of the stage given all of the activity occurring just inches away. The intrepid musicians? Jim Van Deusen, piano and conductor; Tracy Garon, piano; Tony Fenner, drums; Cheryl Miracle, French horn; and Glen Quarrie, woodwinds.
No, I didn’t forget Sarah Jo Martens, the costume designer. This must have been a pull your hair out effort for Martens, given the number of characters, and the several costume changes for almost all of the principal characters here, particularly Jekyll/Hyde, Emma, and Lucy. This story would have been lacking some power without the costumes we experienced so elegantly.
Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical, is scheduled to run from now through April 13th, 2025. BUT it is sold out for the entire run. If you are interested, you can contact their box office to see if any tickets are returned for resale. Their email is info@lakecountryplayhousewi.org
