The Strange Case of Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON’S STRANGE CASE OF JEKYLL AND MR HYDE  has been adapted many times.    This adaptation was set in 1979 during a time of unease and political upheaval.    It was both dramatic and shocking and while the programme contained an outline of the various scenes, it helped to have a basic understanding of the story, i.e. Dr Jeykll, a chemist, believes he has found the key to separating the dual nature of man; good and evil.

The set was minimal; free-standing flats portraying various locations such as doors to Dr Jeykll’s house, laboratory, street scenes etc.     Its simple construction allowed minimal disruption and also enabled the set to be quickly assembled and disassembled for festival performances.     A mountain of binbags piled in various  locations added to the grim atmosphere of urban decay.    Props: wheelchair, walking stick and others were well used.

The costumes were first class and in keeping with the period.   Later it was explained that the mustard/yellow and blue combinations were the ‘in’ colours for that period and this worked well.  Pete Watt and George Buckland (as Jeykll and Hyde) were dressed identically except for their shoes: Hyde’s shoes being red.   

This was a very cleverly staged production: lighting used to emphasise Hyde’s deformity, and 70s' music added enormously to the period of the piece.    A coat symbolised Carew and this enabled George Buckland, as Hyde, to fully vent his anger during the murder scene.    This would have been impossible to stage with another actor on the receiving end. There were strong performances all round with Pete Watt being rivetting as Dr Jeykll.    Although more recently set, than the Victorian original, the the main themes of the story, are still relevent today.  Directed by Pete Watt, this was a captivating production, enthralling from start to finish and I was hooked from the very first scene.

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