After having just seen the Bremen production, I was extremely interested to see this show. I was expecting it to be very different from both the German and Broadway shows, and I wasn’t disappointed in that regard.
 Alison and Chuck Wagner |
The show began with the hospital scene again, but with less narration from Utterson, and none at all from Sir Danvers. I liked that right off the bat. Jekyll sang “Lost in the Darkness”, and then an abbreviated version of “I Need to Know”, but it was nice to just have it in there at all. “Facade” was next, and though I liked it better than the Broadway choreography, the whole stopping/starting thing seemed a little odd to me. I just find it very unnatural to have the dancing in this song and in “Murder, Murder”, when there is no dancing anywhere else in the show (aside from at the Red Rat, but there it makes sense). And the movements seem so wooden…I’m not sure if that’s a conscious choice, or what it’s supposed to symbolize, but it really does nothing for me. |
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Also, the sound system at the NAC was just horrible. I have never been a fan of that theatre…it’s too big, and is very obviously a “multi-purpose” theatre, and the sound just seemed to get lost in the cavern. Back to the show…I really liked how the Board of Governors scene was set up, with the governors on a balcony above Jekyll, who gave his address directly out to the audience. I really liked the use of different levels throughout the entire show. The engagement party scene was also very nice, and I liked the interaction between Jekyll and Emma. They were very obviously in love. We had the understudy Emma, Kelli O’Hara, and I thought she was fabulous!! Chuck Wagner was also very good, though I found that because he has such a baritone to begin with, the vocal difference between Jekyll and Hyde was not all that pronounced. The physical difference was quite remarkable though. |
 Me and Chuck Wagner |
I found the scene leading up to the Red Rat very interesting…rather than Utterson leading Jekyll to the club, it was Jekyll who chose the spot, and insisted they go in when Utterson hesitated! It was pretty much an exact reversal of how it’s done on Broadway. “Bring on the Men” itself was interesting…I’m not sure I particularly liked having the women dressed as men. I found the Bremen version much sexier. Sharon Brown had a great accent as Lucy, but it seemed she was concentrating so hard on the accent that some of the rest of her performance suffered a bit. When she wanted to, though, she could really belt out those songs.
 My friend Tanya and her boyfriend John, with Alison after the show |
“This is the Moment” was wonderful, as always, except for being momentarily blinded by a spinning mirror that resembled a spaceship or something of that sort. The Transformation was also really good…I liked the “Midnight. Unexpected developments.” line. “Alive” was interesting…when he met Lucy, she started to sing “Dangerous Game”, the original version, until he get violent and she ran away. I’m not sure if I liked it, but it was intriguing.
“His Work and Nothing More” was very nice…I’m so glad they went back to the complete recording version. Jekyll and Lucy’s kiss after “Sympathy, Tenderness” was a little more passionate than any I’ve seen, and her “Someone Like You” was very nice. I could have done without the cheesy sound effects when Hyde killed the Bishop though. 🙂 |
I seem to have misplaced my review of Act Two for the moment! But I’ll find it soon. 🙂 Sorry to leave you hanging!
The Quotes:
“We wouldn’t have gotten spit on in the front row.”
“No, the orchestra’s getting it instead.”
“That’s why they have that screen there.”
Alison and I, making observations during intermission
“I was wondering if you could do something for me.”
“Sure, of course, what is it?”
“Well, not right now, actually. Later.”
“Ooh, even better!”
Me and Chuck Wagner, after the show
The cast: (in order of appearance)
|
Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde |
CHUCK WAGNER |
|
John Utterson |
JAMES CLOW |
|
Sir Danvers Carew |
DENNIS KELLY |
|
An Old Man |
DAVID ELLEDGE |
|
Simon Stride |
ABE REYBOLD |
|
Archibald Proops |
DAVID ELLEDGE |
|
General Lord Glossop |
STEVEN BOGARD |
|
Lady Beaconsfield |
BERTILLA BAKER |
|
Basil, Bishop of Basingstoke |
ROGER E. DEWITT |
|
Lord Savage/The Spider |
ROBIN HAYNES |
|
Emma Carew |
KELLI O’HARA |
|
1st Gentleman |
MAX PERLMAN |
|
2nd Gentleman |
MICHAEL L. MARRA |
|
Lucy |
SHARON BROWN |
|
The Madame |
BERTILLA BAKER |
|
Nellie |
FELICIA FINLEY |
|
Poole |
DAVID ELLEDGE |
|
Mr. Bisset, an apothecary |
MICHAEL L. MARRA |
|
Priest at Wedding |
ROGER E. DEWITT |
|
Female Ensemble |
BECCA AYERS |
|
Male Ensemble |
STEVEN BOGARD |