Jekyll And Hyde The Musical

The New Garrett Theatre take on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde - the classic novel turned into a musical Jekyll and Hyde conceived for stage by Steve Cuden and Fank Wildhorn. Cuden known for writing for animation series like X-men, Batman and Pink Panther. Wildhorn known for writing for Whitney Houston and many others. Book and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Music by Frank Wildhorn. The musical is loosely based on the book, films and television series have also been written over the years.

Entering the auditorium, we are met with stark simple set and a video wall in red with the words Jekyll and Hyde across it. Stage Left is a bed with a man sat staring into space with a straight jacket on (we later discovered this is Doctor Jekyll’s father.) On the right of the bed Down Stage is a chair, sat there is Dr Jekyll - instantly giving a dramatic feel. The composite set is then used for various scenes and the three levels with stairs used well. Various items are brought on like street lamps, chairs, tables. Truck for the laboratory with large table, the Red Rat public house, the streets of London, the church, the party and Jekyll’s study. To frame the main set were four flats protruding dramatically from the wings at the sides depicting arches. Two larger ones at the front and smaller towards the back. The scenes were changed quickly by crew and cast and often towards the end of a song which I thought was a good idea and helped with the fluidity. Set Design by Laura Gaskell, Set Construction - Paul Brighouse, Alan Brighouse and Jamie Barnett. Set Painting - Laura Gaskell, Catherine Taylor, Helen Taylor, Emily Cunniffe and Jenny Dickinson. Stage Manager Joe Hurst.

Sound Design was by Josh Smith and operated by Callum Bagot. Lighting Design was by Peter Gower and operated by Karl Gerrard and Follow Spot was George Cunniffe and Andy Garvey. I thought the lighting was excellent and very atmospheric. The red worked really well in the Red Rat scene and spots appropriately used on the actors. Really well thought out to enhance and evoke the dark feeling of the show.

Costumes looked in keeping and again red was a theme used and the other muted colour worked well. The Governors all with their own style and the costumes combined effectively. Catherine Taylor’s costume as Emma looked very in keeping even the hair.  The ladies of the night looked of the time and the ensemble. Amy Gaskell as Lucy - costume again gave the definition of her character, although I was not sure about the added ponytail it did look a touch modern. The gentlemen all looked the part too. Wardrobe manager Louise Taafe and Megan Lyth. Assistant Bex Bagot.

Choreography was by Amy Gaskell and she also played ill-fated Lucy Harris. This is not a dance type show but the movement was well done and space well used. Loved the cast making the cross in the church scene. Also the use of repeated motifs in numbers worked and helped tell the story. Good pictures created. Amy as Lucy was well cast and a lovely voice. We were able to see her journey and Someone Like You was heartfelt and the duet In His Eyes was beautiful

Musical Direction was by Catherine Taylor who also played Emma Carew fiancée to Dr Jekyll. The music although dramatic must have been challenging and I did like how it moved the story along. Murder, Murder by the ensemble and His Work And Nothing More were particular highlights. Catherine’s character Emma was a good foil for Dr Jekyll and she played out her devotion to him well.

Yvonne Gerrard directs with assistant director Helen Taylor. Yvonne put her stamp on the production right from the start walking into the auditorium the right atmosphere was created. I have already mentioned the smooth transition of the set changes using crew and cast. With good use of the stage not one bit was unused. With touches like newspaper scene, good old fashioned social media. The red silk cloths when Dr Jekyll killed added to the tension - seamless direction.

With a cast of 27 and some doubling up I will only mention a few. The cast worked well together and the scene in the Red Rat was dark with a few lighter moments like John Utterson (Guy Tudgay) coming back from his encounter with Nellie (Megan Lyth) and Lucy’s flirting with customers during her song.

The Board of Governors of St Jude’s hospital. Megan Smith played Lady Beaconsfield, Joshua Thomas played The Bishop of Basingstoke, Louis Gerrity played Lord Savage, Marcus Iannone played Sir Archibold Proops and Garry Foley played General Lord Glossop. The scene worked well and the song came across, giving us insight into their characters - each one different but joined as hypocrites.

Zachery David as Simon Stride the secretary of the board and also in love with Emma Curfew and Jim Taylor playing Emma’s dad who was the chairman of the board. Both playing out their agendas well.

Guy Tudgay as Dr Jekyll friend and lawyer Gabriel John Utterson. I think this is possibly a hard part to play. The character is a friend and also has to stay on right side of the law, he supports Jekyll the best way he can without knowing all the facts, pushing his own boundaries.  The character was sympathetic towards him and this worked in their friendship. You could see his quandary.

Last but not least the protagonist himself Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde played by Ryan Gerrard. This was a masterclass to watch. He gently starts with his character putting his point across and getting more and more exasperated with the Board and society. His reasoning in and out, twisting his mind. Unfortunately, Mr Hyde takes over and he is unable to control him anymore. Ryan’s portrayal was very controlled as an actor and the transformation scene and when he sings in both characters was transfixing to watch. I don’t mean they were underplayed - he hit the right note giving the character believability through acting and song. The control and physicality were evident and he must have been exhausted. No make up was used as they would in films to portray the alter ego just his body movements and physicality. He looked dreadful at the end weighed down with what he had done and the internal fight going on inside. Jekyll and Hyde is in the dictionary as A person or thing that alternately displays two different sides to their character or nature. Well Ryan certainly gave us all that and more. The allegory of the original sin and fall of man was very evident here in this performance and the criminal that lives in all of us often dormant. Excellent characterisation Ryan.

The New Garrett must be delighted with this show and thank you so much for the invite and hospitality from my guest Beverley and I.

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep

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