Jekyll & Hyde boasts excellent performances
Dreary 19th Century London is the setting for the contemporary musical "Jekyll and Hyde," which opened last weekend at the Lake City Playhouse.
Overall, director Jared Helm and a solid cast made this one of the theater's most unique and memorable productions.
The show, an adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson novella "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde," reveals the underbelly of the city's culture - the disparity between the rich and poor, men and women, and the duality that exists inside oneself.
It centers on one man, Dr. Henry Jekyll, whose obsession to help his ill father leads to risky experiments and his own demise.
Veteran actor Mike Hynes believably embodied both the respectable doctor and his evil alter ego Hyde, and it was a treat to watch the transformation onstage. His singing voice at times moved from soft restraint to a crescendo. His renditions of "I Need to Know" and "This Is the Moment" blew the steeple off this little playhouse.
Hynes' performance was matched by Amy Schoedel, who played Jekyll's virtuous fiancee Emma Carew, and Emily Bayne, who portrayed the sympathetic prostitute Lucy Harris.
Bayne had several shining moments, including a sweet performance of "Sympathy, Tenderness" that opened Lucy's heart to us and created pathos. Hyde would later crush that heart.
The ensemble, too, boasted some lovely voices. In "Faade," the working class and poor pierce the veil between them and the rich, warning that false fronts will lead downward. Shane Brown was a standout in this group.
The dramatic show wasn't without humor. Brothel owner Nellie, played with Mae West-style attitude by Jenner Davis, provided some lightness.
This show could become melodramatic, but director Helm does a fine job maintaining that line.
More tension and a deeper connection between Jekyll and Emma is needed, especially during their romantic duet "Take Me As I Am." But, those sinews could strengthen during the run.
Some scene changes were noisy, at times pulling focus away from the performers. Getting the dead offstage during Hyde's murder rampage was a challenge; they tried to crawl off discretely, eliciting laughter from some in the audience.
"Jekyll and Hyde's" music by Frank Wildhorn and book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse tended to repeat itself, and the dialogue fell flat at times.
The minimalistic set mainly consisted of a backdrop of a silhouette of the London skyline, and the color of the backlight changed with the tone of each scene. While the simple set was a welcome contrast to the complexities of the characters and music, more atmosphere would turn this show from dark to chilling.
Still, the payoff came in the second act with "Confrontation," where Jekyll and Hyde simultaneously fought over the doctor's soul through song. Hynes switched from one character to the other, altering his voice and body within seconds. The lighting effects added to this dramatic moment.
In all, this classic tale of the horror we humans are capable of is skillfully presented by a talented group of folks, and Hynes' portrayal alone is worth the price of the ticket.
"Jekyll and Hide" runs through May 23.
Sandra Hosking, a Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area college instructor and freelance journalist, is a longtime member of the theater community and playwright whose works have been performed across the U.S. and internationally.