Jekyll & Hyde

Originally conceived in the 1980’s (music by Frank Wildhorn, book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse) Jekyll and Hyde is not a story one would perhaps associate with musical theatre, although over the years it has had considerable success and has an army of musical theatre fans.  

Something of a musical thriller it is not unlike Phantom of the Opera. The show contains little dialogue and although the story is a well-known one there is little narrative detail to support the songs therefore the songs need to move the story on.  

The staging of the show throws up many challenges because of myriad locations.  The decision for the director and designer has to be to have either individual scene settings or an all purpose set.  NOMADS went down the individual setting route which meant many scenes were performed in front of the blacks which I personally felt was a shame.  The raised structure at the back worked well as the street and the nightclub and  upstairs room and was basic enough to have morphed into other scenes with minimal additions.  The furniture and props were all appropriate and well thought out.  I was particularly impressed with the practical chemistry counter used by Jekyll it looked pretty realistic to me.  

Lighting was atmospheric and the red light for the murders made a strong image.

The idea of the dual spots working in time with the music for Jekyll and Hyde’s song Confrontation was a good one but to make it succeed the light sequences need to be ‘spot on’ which on the first night unfortunately was not the case.

Costumes were suitable for the period, the men’s frock coats looked super, but I felt that one or two of the chorus ladies’ skirts were a touch short.

A musical of this nature makes great demands on the players, who are required to be able to sing and act to a high standard and the contribution of the chorus/ensemble should never be underestimated, because they can either make or break a production if they do not have the discipline and dedication required of them in their support of the principal players.  The vocal standard here was good and the chorus were well rehearsed in their numbers. Their first act  ‘Façade’ was well handled and ‘Murder Murder’ in act two excellent, full of energy and movement.   The pace throughout was good and what the first act lacked in energy was made up for in act two.

The good Dr Jekyll is engaged to the sweet Emma, but Hyde takes up with Lucy, a prostitute: both women are in love with the good and bad sides of the same man.  

His two amours both excelled in their performance. Laura Jolley as Lucy Harris gave an outstanding performance handling the big ballads A New Life and Someone Like You with not inconsiderable skill.  Lucy and Emma’s duet In His Eyes was particularly emotive and a highlight for me.   Katy Cocks gave a sensitive interpretation of Emma, a young lady who was eminently suitable for the respected Jekyll, and she demonstrated the emotions that role required well.  Her singing was wonderful and Once upon a Dream, just beautiful.

There were good strong supporting performances from David Philpott (John Utterson) and Eric Maguire (Sir Danvers Carew), who in their turn were ably  supported by Tim McCormick (The Bishop of Basingstoke), Andy McGowan (Simon Stride), Colin Scott (Lord Savage) Matthew Taum  (General Glossop), Trevor Kartupelis (Sir Archibald Proops) and Lynne Nunn (Lady Beaconsfield) all governors of the Hospital Board.

There were also a couple of nice cameos from Cat Blacker (Nellie - a prostitute) and Oliver Squires (as the threatening and sleazy night club owner Spider).

The role of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde demands something quite amazing from the individual cast to play the part. The passion, energy, concentration, vocal ability and stamina that this character requires is not for the faint-hearted. To achieve the transformation from Jekyll to Hyde on stage, rather than film when anything is possible, presents a problem, and although the audience probably expected something other than dishevelment alone, I felt it worked. 

Jamie Maguire was first class in the massive role of Jekyll/Hyde. From the powerful opening number to the finale his acting was commendable and his singing the best I have heard from him. Possibly slightly more contrast could have been made between the two characters but there was certainly enough of a change to make it believable.

Under Mark Aldous’ baton the orchestra dealt expertly with the complex requirements of the score and I must commend director Fiona Maguire on her cleverly put together Director’s Note.

This was a good production and whilst certainly not a light hearted evening’s entertainment the quality of the piece made for entertainment of a different kind.  Well done!

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